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 

The House List · Ep. #142 : DJ Nikoless - Production Credits: Showbiz (DJ Mix)

Peter Agoston and his House List Podcast are back with this very special mix done by Kevin Beacham a.k.a DJ Nikoless, recorded in '98/99 but never previously released. 
This is The House List - Episode #142. 

"Although I'd been dabbling in DJing since '85, being that I was busy with MCing, Breakin'/Poppin', and Production (and I didn't own proper turntables), I didn't start focusing on DJing until '97/'98 when I started recording mixtapes with borrowed turntables and mixer, recording into my Tascam 688 8-Track. 

I exclusively focused on concept mixes, and one idea was to honor my favorite Hip Hop producers, and I started with Showbiz! I never officially released this mix, but I did give out and sell a few handfuls of dubs of it. But, I wanted these Production Credits series of mixes to be official, and being I never got the drops and other pieces from Showbiz, I didn't properly release it. That also led to me not finishing the other planned volumes; Prince Paul, Large Professor, and DJ Mark The 45 King, although the last one I did record 10 years later and that is on my Mixcloud page!

A couple months ago Peter Agoston hit me up asking if I had a new or unreleased mix I could share on his House List Podcast (Good looking out!). I wanted to record a new mix, but some of the stuff I need for that are still in storage, so I dug this one up.

This was recorded in '99, in fact, in the middle of recording it, Big L passed away, which was terrible news to receive. 

The mix features Jermaine Pratt doing a juggle of the Artifacts and Juan Presyce Cervantes doing all the scratches which are featured on the intro and then some more over the "Buckshot Lefonque" beat. " - courtesy of Kevin Beacham 

1) Introduction (Medicine Inst & You Know Now Inst) w/DJ Precyse on the cut!

2) Check It Out - Show & A.G.

3) Q & A - Show & A.G. w/ Ghetto Dwellas

4) Get Dirty - Ghetto Dwellas

5) Who's It On - The Legion w/Show & A.G.

6) N S E W Remix - Black Sheep (w/I'm No The One Instrumental Blend)

7) Wishful Thinking - Big Pun w/Kool G Rap, Fat Joe, & B Real

8) The Ultimate Remix - The Artifacts (w/DJ Pratt Beat Juggle)

9) Mind I C Mine - Scramanga

10) Time For.... (Demo Version) - Show & A.G.

11) Confrontations - Organized Konfusion (w/You Want It inst)

12) The Crow - O.C. (w/The Session Inst & Represent The Real Hip Hop Inst)

13) Breakfeast At Denny's Remix - Buckshot Lefonque (Bonus Cuts By DJ Precyse)

14) Blowe! - KRS One

15) All Out - Show & A.G.

16) Yes You May Remix - Lord Finesse w/Big L [Remixed By T Ray] (R.I.P BIg L)

17) It's Up To You - Show & A.G. w/Lord Finesse

18) A Lil Sumpin - Lord Finesse

19) Soul Clap - Show & A.G. [Co Produced By Diamond D]

20) It's My Turn [DJ Nikoless Beat Blend Remix] - Uptown (w/Bring It On Rmx Inst)

21) Never Less Than Ill-Show & A.G.

22) A Friend - KRS One

23) Parental Discretion - Big Pun w/Busta Rhymes

24) Stone To The Bone - Big Jaz

25) Freestyle - Funkmaster Flex Presents Jay Z (Stages & Lights Inst)

26) I Don't Understand It - Big L

27) Represent - Show & A.G. w/Lord Finesse, Ice Water Deshawn, & Big L

28) Hands In The AIr - Lord Finesse

29) Fine Tune Da Mic - Maestro Fresh Wes w/Showbiz

30) Stand Strong - Show & A.G. (w/Dignified Soldiers Inst)

31) More Than One Way Out Of The Ghetto - Show & A.G.

32) Drop It Heavy - Show & A.G. w/Big Pun & KRS One

33) Neighborhood Sickness - Show & A.G. w/Pary Arti

34) Themes, Dreams, & Schemes - D.I.T.C

35) Feel The Vibe - Diamond D w/Showbiz

36) Mic Mechanism - Maestro Fresh Wes

37) Set It Off - Lord Finesse

38) Return Of The Funkyman - Lord Finesse

39) Giant In The Mental - Show & A.G.

40) Party Groove Inst (w/Showbiz Verses: Hold Ya Head, Fat Pockets, & Silence The Lambs) - Showbiz

41) Devils Son - Big L

42) Fire Water - Fat Joe w/Raekwon, Big Pun & Armageddon

Mad Props to Peter Agoston & Kevin Beacham 

Demo : Monastic Cipher - Disaster Plight - 1995

The legendary Kevin Beacham is posting a new demo from his archives every day for the next 30 days via his youtube channel RedefineHipHop !! ... Here is the Demo #1 "Disaster Plight" recorded in 1995 by Monastic Cipher from Chicago.

"In May 1995, I went to an event called Mayfest at the University of Illinois in Champaign. All throughout the '90s, it was common for me and my crew to roll up to Champaign to freestyle at parties, make appearances on Rap Radio shows on WEFT, chill with local MCs, and get pretty wild in the streets sometimes. At this time, I was living in Waukegan, IL (about an hour north of Chicago), and I think we mostly went to Champaign when there wasn't an event in Chicago we wanted to check out. But, also I think it's true that sometimes we all couldn't afford the events in Chicago and we didn't always have access to get on the mic at the parties/events there, and I don't think most of us realized you could just show up at the radio station and ask to rap, we thought you had to be invited. But, in Champaign, all of those things were welcomed to us, and we were always invited back.

However, in '95, I was the co-owner of a magazine called Caught In The Middle magazine, and our third issue was possibly going to have Rubberoom on the cover, and they were performing at Mayfest (with Tone B Nimble of All Natural as their DJ for the day), so I specifically went to Champaign this time to take pictures of their set. They were a group that I was always somehow involved with their whole career, circa '92-'99.

Other groups on Mayfest '95 were Primeridian and Monastic Cipher. This was my first time seeing Primeridian, who soon after became friends. I was also responsible for getting them and Rubberoom a show together, for both of their first appearance in Minneapolis, at a Rhymesayers event at 7th Street Entry in 1997. And, Mayfest '95 was my only time seeing Monastic Cipher, which would be true for most anyone , if not everyone, there, because I learned much later that they broke up really soon after this, so this was likely one of their only shows!

Their set really impressed me! It was just so raw. The beats were stripped-down and kinda quirky, but absolutely hardcore also. And, they all naturally had great flows, lyrics, and personalities on the mic. I approached them after the set and told them I dug their performance, and asked for a tape because of Caught In The Middle magazine and my radio show, Time Travel on WNUR in Chicago. I played this tape pretty heavy on the show. 

I wish they made more music, but I did learn that they split into three different crews after this show. I'm hoping to still track down the music from those separately formed groups!!" 
- courtesy of Kevin Beacham 

Time Travel Radio Show Archives - 1995-1996 - WNUR 89.3FM

Time Travel Radio was on the air on WNUR 89.3 Evanston-Chicago from 4-20-1995 until August 2002. It was created, hosted, and produced by Kevin Beacham. Throughout the years the show had several different co-hosts, DJs, interns, and other key supporting members. This is a collection of some of the many freestyles that took place between 1995 and 1996. 

Mad Props to Kevin Beacham for unearthing all these Freestyles and Interviews.