Keith Nut's Tribute

I'd like to pay tribute to the legendary emcee Keith Arthur Joynes, better known under the name Keith Nut (a.k.a Kieth Kieth, a.k.a Keef Nutt) from Forest Houses, South Bronx. I've been looking for him for years for an interview but I've recently learned that he passed away last year after battling with cancer. 

If the name of Keith Nut doesn't speak to you, you need to know that he was an original member of the Terror Squad with Fat Joe. They were raised in the same building, 1000 Trinity in Forest Houses.

To make a recap about his musical career, Keith Nut made his first appearance in 1993 alongside Fat Joe on the track "Another Wild N**r from the Bronx", under the name Kieth Kieth. The track was part of Fat Joe's debut album "Represent" released on Relativity Records.

He later featured again with Fat Joe on a few freestyles broadcast on the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR in 1994-1995 or on a few mixtapes. By the way his demo played by Bobbito in 1995 is a little gem ! He also features on Fat Joe's second album "Jealous One's Envy" released in 1995 and on the album dropped by the Terror Squad in 1999.

In the late 90s, Fat Joe and Keith Nut went separate ways. Keith Nut just stopped spitting and disappeared from the NYC hip-hop scene. He didn't record any songs after that. He dedicated himself to his family life and his various jobs, either at Yankee Stadium or at the hospital... Rest In Peace !

Built To Last Mix : Dialek BTL Mix

 

New Built To Last Mix dedicated to the Boston-based producer Dialek who passed away in March 2023. Rest In Peace !

01/ Concrete Click "Naive To The Fact" 

02/ Scumbag SaV! "Misery" (ft Dialek) 

03/ Krumb Snatcha "Hip Hop" 

04/ Da F.E.N.C.E. Men "Head To Head" 

05/ Laster "Searchin 4 Meaning" 

06/ D.Auguste "Dream Pool" 

07/ The Union ( D.Auguste, Da F.E.N.C.E. Men & Laster) "Mental Scriptures" 

08/ Edo.G "Understand" 

09/ Chubb Rock, Lil Dap, Paw Dukes & Edo G "Rich get Rich (No More Prisons)" 

10/ Paw Dukes "Amazin"

Life After Death - KMD in The Source, June 1994

 

From The Source, June 1994 - Scans courtesy of Cr@zy Wizdumb Master$

Mix : DJ Ian Head Presents De La Soul Dedication Mix

 

Here is a mix done by DJ Ian Head dedicated to the group De La Soul and Trugoy the Dove (RIP). 

"Rest in Peace and Power Dave Trugoy the Dove Plug 2. An absolute tragic loss that I'm still in shock over. Sending love and support to his family and friends, and of course all the other fans like myself who literally grew up on De La Soul and Dave's voice and artistry. De La Soul is not dead however. Everyone should go out and buy and support their music when it starts streaming and becoming available for purchase in early March!

This is a mix I made last Friday evening of some of my favorite De La records and samples, with a focus on Plug 2's mastery of the written and spoken word. All vinyl except for one obscure guest spot that I love which he did with Moka Only awhile back. Salute to one of the absolute best groups and emcees EVER." - DJ Ian Head

4 Iza Cru ‎- I Know Ya Style / Boriqua Skinz - 1995

 

12"- 1995 - Rukus Records 

In 2017, I blogged a little review of this wax released in 1995 by the Brooklyn-based group 4 IZA CRU, with the help of the producer M-Tri. If you don't remember, you can still check it HERE.

Yesterday, Max M-tri Triolo dropped a very interesting video on his Youtube channel, where he gives us more details about the story of this 12". Check this ! 

Mad Props to Pascal Ross-Marquette 

RIP Senica Da Misfit

 

Here are some sad news today... the super talented Baltimore, MD-based emcee Senica Lee a.k.a Senica Da Misfit has recently passed away. My sincere condolences go out to his Family and Friends... Rest In Power. 

A.B.U. Nation - Black Panther Style / Gun In Your Hand - 1994

 

12" - 1994 - Solidify Records 

Here is the very hard to find debut 12" released by the group A.B.U Nation in 1994 on Solidify Records. A.B.U Nation which stands for African Brothers United Nation was a NYC group consisted of Skully, Rip a.k.a E-Rip and Demaka who was the core member of the group. The two singles pressed on this wax are "Black Panther Style" and "Gun In Your Hand", Street versions on the A-side and Radio versions on the B-side.

RIP Biz Markie

 

It's sad to hear that Pioneering New York rapper, producer, beatboxer and DJ Biz Markie died Friday at the age of 57... Rest In Peace...

RIP Double K

 

Here is a PUTS tribute mixed by my man Phuncky Doyen and aired on Monday 18th January 2020 on Hip-Hop Syndrome radio show. The west coast legend Double K, one half of the Los Angeles hip-hop duo People Under the Stairs passed away recently... Rest In Peace.

MF DOOM clears the smoke on his solo career

 

R.I.P MF DOOM (1971-2020)

From Elemental Magazine - Issue #26 - Scans courtesy of Tim Burton 

Malik B Tribute

R.I.P Combat Jack

The Hip-Hop culture has lost another great figure this week ... 
Rest In Peace Combat Jack a.k.a Reggie Ossé.  
Condolences to his Family and Friends.

R.I.P "Big" Juan Carlos Martinez

Sad News ... Molemen member "Big" Juan Carlos Martinez has passed away.  My deepest and sincere condolences to the whole Martinez family and the Molemen Crew. Rest In Peace !

4 Iza Cru ‎- I Know Ya Style / Boriqua Skinz - 1995

12"- 1995 - Rukus Records 

In April, I blogged both tracks of this rare wax released on Rukus Records in 1995 but didn't have any information about this group. Since then, I've been in contact with M-Tri who produced the track "I know My Style" and he gave me some info about 4izacru :

"The members of 4izacru were Kid Dynamite, Cos, Steve Lover and DJ Furious. They were from Sunset Park Brooklyn, NY and were managed by Hot Dawg (Chubb Rock's dancer). I met them around 93/94. I worked with Kid Dynamite in a department store and we became cool. He told me him and his brother Cos were in a group and I played him some beats which led to working on "I Know Ya Style". They pressed that up with "Boriqua Skinz" as the flip side which was produced by Hot Dawg. I think they pressed up 500 copies. I produced another track for them that was supposed to be for their album. They also pressed another single "Boriqua Mameez". I lost touch with them around 1997. A few years ago I found out through a mutual friend that Steve Lover had passed away." - Courtesy of M-Tri

I'm sure it won't be a problem for you to listen to these tracks again !  R.I.P Steve Lover

Props to M-Tri. 

R.I.P Prodigy

Prodigy of Mobb Deep, died on Tuesday June 20th at the age of 42. He was hospitalized in Las Vegas several days ago due to complications caused by his sickle cell anemia. 

Respect to this great MC ... Rest In Peace 

R.I.P : Lord Finesse remembers Big L

From Stress Magazine - Scan by Babylon Falling 

R.I.P Lamont Coleman a.k.a Big L (May 30, 1974 - February 15, 1999) 

Tribute to DAVID AXELROD

David Axelrod - Oh! Freedom

The Electric Prunes - Holy Are You

David Axelrod - Dr. T

Cannonball Adderley - Scorpio: Back "A" Town

David Axelrod - The Human Abstract

David Axelrod - The Dr & The Diamond

David McCallum - The Edge

Lou Rawls - Lifetime Monologue

David Axelrod - Holy Thursday

Cannonball Adderley Quintet - Tensity

David Axelrod - Hope

David Axelrod - Warning Talk, Part One

David Axelrod - Song of Innocence

David Axelrod - The Leading Citizen

David Axelrod - Merlin's Prophecy

Cannonball Adderley - Virgo: For Pam

David Axelrod - 1000 Rads

David Axelrod - Ken Russell

David Axelrod - Terri's Tune

Cannonball Adderley - Libra: Patricia
David Axelrod - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing

R.I.P Tha Govener a.k.a Gov Mattic

R.I.P  Tha Govener ...

"Gov Mattic, also known as Tha Governer, got into the hip-hop scene early on as a member of the local Newark, New Jersey hip-hop collective Revolutionary Party of Terrace. The group formed in the late 1980's and included such up-and-comers as Redman and several rappers that would become part of the group Lords Of The Underground. In the 1990's Gov Mattic teamed up with another local Newark hip-hop artist to form the group Diezzle Don & Tha Govener. The duo released two albums, 1995 (Year Of The Independent) (1995) and "Hell Up In Newark" (1998). Gov Mattic continued to appear on underground mixtape releases and was known more for his production work."

Tribute to Bobby Hutcherson - R.I.P

Bobby Hutcherson , one of the greatest jazz vibraphonists has passed away 

Monday August 15th at the age of 75.

In honor of Bobby Hutcherson, VEKS produced some beats dedicated to him, 
all made with Hutcherson samples. 

Enjoy the Tribute !

Rest In Peace 

R.I.P Phife Dawg ...

A true Legend has passed away ... Rest In Peace Malik Isaac Taylor a.k.a Phife Dawg  (November 20, 1970 - March 22, 2016)

Condolences to his Family and Friends .

12" - 1991 - Jive