Ill Conscious x Mute Won "Acres of Diamonds" (Album Stream)

Acres of Diamonds is the 4th LP by Baltimore lyricist ILL Conscious, which is solely produced by Camden, NJ’s Mute Won. With Baltimore and Camden being similar in its grungy aesthetic, the artistic chemistry between ILL and Mute will serve as promising to the listener. The level of introspection and conceptual songs make this album more personable conjoined with a theatrical soundtrack. The 15 track LP features DJ Grazzhoppa, Rome Streetz, Planet Asia, Snook Da Crook (Dirt Platoon), DJ TMB, Omnia Azar, Jamil Honesty, Mandriq, King Magnetic, Dink and more. Big fan of Ill Conscious... I recall reading a post where he discussed losing his notebook of rhymes a while back - that musta been devastating. He's got a dope pen and raw delivery, dig into the new album below...

Dan Charnas "Dilla Time" (Book)

"Equal parts biography, musicology, and cultural history, Dilla Time chronicles the life and legacy of J Dilla, a musical genius who transformed the sound of popular music for the twenty-first century. He wasn’t known to mainstream audiences, even though he worked with renowned acts like D’Angelo and Erykah Badu and influenced the music of superstars like Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. He died at the age of thirty-two, and in his lifetime he never had a pop hit. Yet since his death, J Dilla has become a demigod: revered by jazz musicians and rap icons from Robert Glasper to Kendrick Lamar; memorialized in symphonies and taught at universities. And at the core of this adulation is innovation: a new kind of musical time-feel that he created on a drum machine, but one that changed the way 'traditional' musicians play. In Dilla Time, Dan Charnas chronicles the life of James DeWitt Yancey, from his gifted childhood in Detroit, to his rise as a Grammy-nominated hip-hop producer, to the rare blood disease that caused his premature death; and follows the people who kept him and his ideas alive. He also rewinds the histories of American rhythms: from the birth of soul in Dilla’s own 'Motown,' to funk, techno, and disco. Here, music is a story of Black culture in America and of what happens when human and machine times are synthesized into something new. Dilla Time is a different kind of book about music, a visual experience with graphics that build those concepts step by step for fans and novices alike, teaching us to “see” and feel rhythm in a unique and enjoyable way. Dilla’s beats, startling some people with their seeming 'sloppiness,' were actually the work of a perfectionist almost spiritually devoted to his music. This is the story of the man and his machines, his family, friends, partners, and celebrity collaborators. Culled from more than 150 interviews about one of the most important and influential musical figures of the past hundred years, Dilla Time is a book as delightfully detail-oriented and unique as J Dilla’s music itself." - MCD. Pre-order Dilla Time now via Amazon. Much respect to Dan Charnas; Rest In Peace, James Yancey.

Kupla "Mirage" (Instrumental Album)

Kupla is a producer based in Helsinki, Finland. I was big fan of his earlier releases, "In The Forest We Are Wizards" and "Gravy", among other beautifully crafted instrumental projects. Mirage boasts 10 of the finest lo-fi beats, filled with a mix of emotions flowing smoothly together. When I'm working or driving, I throw on his instrumentals and just vibe out: the calming piano-driven instrumentals offer a wide range of emotional content. You can hear the clarinets dance in tandem with orchestral instruments, relaxing field recordings and soft bass lines. NineToFive also shares: "Mirage can refer to optical illusions caused by weather conditions, but also a wish or hope that cannot be achieved. But even a mirage starts with an idea, a thought, and having that seed planted is everything. No matter how impossible the wish may seem, the 1st step has already been materialized." Listen to it...

Camp Lo "Uptown Saturday Night" (25th Anniversary)

Hot off the success of Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt, producer extraordinaire Ski was on fire when he flipped Dynasty's "Adventures In The Land of Music" for Camp Lo's breakout 1996 smash single "Luchini aka This Is It." The same year saw Camp Lo opening shows for De La Soul during their Stakes Is High tour. Combine that with the fact that Ish aka Butterfly from Digable Planets had cosigned for the group's reputation and would appear on the tracks (in addition to Trugoy from De La), there became a huge buzz around their debut album Uptown Saturday Night. Fast forward a few months to January 1997 and the heavily anticipated release of Camp Lo's first record, which did not disappoint. It struck the perfect balance between club tracks and underground bangers for the mixtape crowd. Critically acclaimed and fan approved, this late 90s must-have was complemented by the incredible cover art illustrated by legendary NYC graffiti artist Dr. Revolt that paid homage to Marvin Gaye's 1976 classic I Want You. It's hard to believe in the time of Puffy's heyday, Camp Lo had developed and delivered a style of Hip Hop that was not only fresh and creative, but also straight up dope. Flipping intricate rhyme styles over some of Rap's finer beats, the fact that Camp Lo got main stream radio play and love from big time club DJ's is a testament to the essence of what Hip Hop was once about: raw talent and originality! Props to Geechi Suede, Sonny Cheeba and Ski Beatz. I believe Uptown Saturday Night has aged considerably well - go 'head, revisit it below...

You cannot front on this album, on any level! Happy 25th anniversary.

DJ Premier "So Wassup?" ("Above The Clouds" Episode, Video)

DJ Premier presents Episode 24, the latest episode in his video series, So Wassup? The episode tackles Gang Starr's legendary track, "Above The Clouds," featuring Inspectah Deck. 1998 was the release of their first gold album, Moment of Truth. Guru was facing prison charges at the time, it was also a 4 year break between albums, but they came back hella strong! Originally Guru was hoping to get Raekwon and Ghostface of the Wu-Tang Clan on the album but Panchi of NYG'z recommended Inspectah Deck instead, and Premo got in touch with RZA. "Your mental" was the concept Guru gave Deck and they got it in... Premo planned out the intro to set it off and creatively he wanted it to sound like the beginning of Eric B. & Rakim's "Microphone Fiend." He nailed that! "I Self Lord And Master, shall bring disaster to evil factors..." It's definitely one of the biggest records in their catalog, and one of my all-time favorites. Grab the "Above The Clouds" t-shirt and salute the floppy disc! Much respect to DJ Premier and Rest In Peace, Guru. Peep the video below...

K!NG JVMES & J. Arrr "Weather Report Two" (EP Stream)

Weather Report Two is the second installment in the series from K!NG JVMES and J. Arrr... and it definitely doesn’t disappoint. The EP is entirely produced by J. Arrr, who captures a more contemporary sound, but not at the expense of real lyricism. The pair of North Carolina emcee’s deliver the type of high caliber raps we’ve come to expect from them, and features by VA TA, Jaking The Divine, and K.J. absolutely rise to the occasion. If you haven't peeped Weather Report from last year, dig in the archives and quickly get familiar. Props to the homie Jon Doe over at Southern Vangard Radio for originally putting me on to their music. Now, listen to Weather Report Two below...

iomos marad & Mauro Gariazzo "City of Wind" (EP Stream)

City of Wind is a nice little gem of an EP from Chicago-based MC Iomos Marad and Italian producer Mauro Gariazzo. The 7-track EP features Dee Jackson, Thaione Davis and Akbar. Some really nice, soulful beats and introspective lyrics pushed this one into rotation for me. Unfortunately there wasn't much info included in their release of the project through the Everybody's Hip-Hop Label, except "It is dope. Let us know if you agree." Stripped down to the bare essentials, the answer is YES, I do agree, and in the days of white labels and no MTV or YouTube that'd be more than enough for me. Take my word for it and tap into their new collaborative EP, City of Wind, streaming below...

Donnie Propa "Straight From The Crate Cave" (Big L Edition)

UK's DJ Donnie Propa returns with the latest installment in his Straight From The Crate Cave series! This time, paying tribute to the late great Harlem MC, Big L. Released as a double cassette, Donnie Propa mixes 3 hours of classic content from one of the greatest MCs of all time. I don't think the day will ever come where Big L's music doesn't attract new listeners: his flow, delivery and punchlines were just too advanced, and he will remain a gem to be discovered for generations to come. The tapes sell themselves, so dig into it below, and hit the archives for past installments honoring Large Pro, Pete Rock, Masta Ace, J Dilla, Jeru The Damaja, The Beatnuts, Griselda Records, Rawkus Records, Mobb Deep, D.I.T.C., and more. Props to Donnie Propa and Rest In Peace, Big L!

Brandon Isaac "I'm Still Healing" (EP Stream)

What we have here is the latest release from Cincinnati, Ohio's Brandon Isaac. The 4-track EP, I'm Still Healing, features some nice soulful loops and highly introspective lyrics. He shares the following message along with its release: "We all are a work in progress. Keep radiating your authentic energy. Your tribe will find you. They will do more than just validate you. They will love you and support you and you will have the energy for reciprocity. Until then. Keep Healing." Sa-Roc shared the lyrics, "Didn't believe in demons 'til I saw Pops wrestling with his..." in the song "Lay It Down", and I've been thinking about that a lot lately. We're all navigating this thing called life, making mistakes and wrestling with our demons along the way. This is a solid, albeit short, EP that reflects some of that while still moving onward. He reminds me a bit of Noveliss. Listen to the I'm Still Healing EP below...

Chris Read "Hip Hop Soul ’92-98" (Mix, 2021)

The Classic Material ‘bonus’ mixes fill the gaps in the original Classic Material Hip Hop History mixtape series, each exploring a specific sub genre or spin off genre not covered in the main series. #5 delves into Mid 90s R&B, specifically the pairing of R&B vocals with classic Hip Hop production, ’Hip Hop Soul’, the natural evolution from New Jack Swing, covered in the previous edition. The mix features production from many of those frequently associated with the sound, The Untouchables, Sean Combes et al, alongside names from the Hip Hop underground who dabbled in R&B: DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee, The Beatnuts, Salaam Remi and others. 16 Bar rap verses abound – AZ, KRS One, Grand Puba, Notorious BIG, Nas and many lesser known all appear. Featured only on this mix, many of the tracks pair R&B Acapellas with Hip Hop production from the era. As with previous editions, the artwork is a pastiche of a popular sleeve from the era, in this case the Bad Boy Records company/promo jacket. Chris Read released this Hip Hop Soul mix last year. Dig into the mix below...

Che Noir "Food For Thought" (Album Stream)

Food for Thought is Buffalo-based rapper Che Noir's 5th album, which features 12 tracks with notable underground rappers such as Griselda’s Armani Caeser and Rome Streetz, as well as 38 Spesh and Ransom. The album is a follow-up to 2020's As God Intended (which was produced by Apollo Brown) and After 12. On the track "Communion," Che shares, "Look, I tend to hide when I grieve Losin' my brother hurt so much that I cry in my sleep I'm wakin' up outta my dreams every night in a scream..." You've gotta feel that. Later spittin', "Peace hidin' from me, best friends in the sky above me Scared to open up to my man, and all he doin' is tryna love me..." It's content like that which carries the album, although the sounds do get a bit repetitive at times. If consistency is the name of the game, fans shall not be disappointed and feeding your fan base has never been bad business. Check out Food For Thought below, and dig into the archives for older releases from Che...

Take It Personal Podcast "Episode 100: Wilt Chamberlain"

Take It Personal is back with their 1st show of 2022. On episode 100, the crew decided to do something a little different, something a little more personal... Each member hand-picked 10 of their favorite tracks of all-time. 4 mixes in all. You, the listener, will decide which is the best 10-track mix of the four they play. You'll hear tracks from A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Boogie Down Productions, The Notorious B.I.G., Public Enemy, Nas, Crooklyn Dodgers, Gang Starr, O.C., GZA, Souls of Mischief, Geto Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, KRS-One, The Pharcyde, Ice Cube, Main Source, Common, Mobb Deep, Dilated Peoples, Dr. Dre, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, and more. Props to Philaflava, Kevlar, DJ 360, A-Aron and Roger the Announcer. The show is clearly a labor of love, and they're doing a great job with their Podcast and these mixes. Listen to it below...

Did I Ever Tell You The One About... MF DOOM (Podcast)

Season 2 of Did I Ever Tell You The One About... takes an in-depth and personal look at the life and career of rapper MF DOOM going back to his early days as Zev Love X and his first group KMD, to his return as the enigmatic, emcee with the signature mask. MF DOOM or simply DOOM, was a British-American rapper and record producer. Known best for his intricate wordplay, signature metal mask, and "supervillain" stage persona, Dumile became a major figure of underground hip hop and alternative hip hop in the 2000s. He remained an influential figure in the landscape until his untimely death on October 31, 2020. Set to release one-year after his passing, this 14 episode season features stories from family, friends and a who’s who of hip-hop legends… all told in immersive sound design with DOOM’s music providing the soundtrack. This is a phenomenal podcast, and while I usually share things episode by episode, I felt - as I did with the Season 1 with Big Daddy Kane - it's better share now that the season is complete. That said, dig into 14 episodes dedicated to the life of one of our culture's most talented, most creative MCs of all-time, MF DOOM. R.I.P., DOOM!

B Leafs "The Synopsis" (Album Stream)

Producer B Leafs is back with the follow-up to 2019's debut album, The Horizon, with another underground gem in The Synopsis. The Boston beatsmith enlists another who's who of underground spitters with features from Skyzoo, Wordsworth, Jay Royale, Craig G, Kool G Rap, 38 Spesh, Termanology, Rasheed Chappell, Reks, Eto, Guilty Simpson, Codenine, Jamil Honesty, Estee Nack, and more. The homie, Supastition, is also a part of the project and I had the pleasure of arranging that feature for B Leafs... that was back in the fall of 2019, so he's been working on The Synopsis for a minute. Some of the most respected in their field over fine beats, say less... listen to the LP below...

Muhammad Ali "The Documentary" (Video, 2015)

Muhammad Ali, arguably the most famous professional boxer in the 20th Century and the only fighter to win the heavyweight championship three times, was born Cassius Clay in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, to Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay. At the age of 12 Clay began training as a boxer.  During his teen years he won several Golden Gloves titles and other amateur titles. At the age of 18 he won a gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy and then turned professional. In one of the most famous boxing matches of the century, Clay in 1965 stunned the world by beating apparently invincible world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston in six rounds. After defeating Liston, Clay announced his conversion to Islam and joining of the Nation of Islam (NOI) under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad. Clay also announced he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. As a member of the NOI, Ali was mentored early on by the organization’s most charismatic leader, Malcolm X. In 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War, Ali received his induction notice. Instead of dodging the draft, Ali announced publicly that he refused induction. Government officials shortly thereafter tried, convicted, and sentenced the boxing champion to five years in prison for draft evasion, but he remained free pending appeals. However, United States boxing officials stripped him of his boxing title and suspended his license. During his suspension, Ali became an activist, touring the country, speaking to civil rights organizations and antiwar groups. In 1970, boxing officials reinstated Ali’s boxing privileges. That same year he won a heavyweight title in a match in New York City, New York. In 1971 he lost a title fight to Joe Frazier in New York City but later that year the United States Supreme Court reversed his conviction for draft evasion. In an epic rematch in New York City on January 28, 1974, Ali defeated Frazier who by this time had lost the title to George Foreman. Later that year Ali defeated Foreman when the two met in Kinshasa, Zaire in a fight popularly known as “The Rumble in the Jungle,” to regain the title. Cont'd below...

Ali and Frazier met a third time in Quezon City, Philippines on October 1, 1975 in a bout that many consider the “Fight of the Century.” Known as “The Thrilla in Manila,” the two boxers met in 100 degree temperatures. Ali won when a technical knockout (TKO) when Frazier’s trainer refused to allow his fighter to answer the bell for the 15th Round. After the fight Ali declared Frazier “the greatest fighter of all times next to me.” In early 1978 Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks, but regained it in a rematch with Spinks later that same year, becoming the first boxer to win the championship three times. Ali retired with the title but returned to the ring in 1980 to face the new champion, Larry Holmes. Ali was unsuccessful and retired permanently in 1981. Ali retired from professional boxing with an overall professional record of 56-5. Over the course of his 61 fights, Muhammad Ali introduced boxing to audiences around the world. In the early 1980s Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Nevertheless in 1985 he participated in the negotiations for the release of kidnapped Americans in Lebanon. During his lifetime, Ali has also received numerous honors and awards for his humanitarian work. The Olympic committee selected him to light the Olympic flame for the 1996 games in Atlanta, Georgia. During that event he received a replacement gold medal for the one he received in 1960 that he tossed in the Ohio River in disgust over a racial incident. In 2005 he also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.  That same year, for his work in the civil rights movement, the former boxer was awarded the prestigious Otto Hahn freedom medal by the German Society for the United Nations. - BlackPast. Ali passed away in 2016 as one of the greatest athletes and most charismatic personalities EVER, may he Rest In Peace...

Buckwild "Diggin In The Tuff Kong Crates" (Album Stream)

After working on different projects over the years, Buckwild and Tuff Kong Records finally link up on their own collaboration album. The legendary DITC producer went diggin' through the Tuff Kong Records vault to and remixed songs featuring artists such as Conway, Benny The Butcher, Mayhem Lauren, AG, Big Twins, CRIMEAPPLE, Eto, Guilty Simpson, Starvin B and LORD JAH-MONTE OGBON and tops the album up with a brand new unreleased song with Boldy James and Soll Badd. A legendary collaboration with one of the most valued producer of our times, check the catalog! From O.C. to Biggie (R.I.P.), Organized Konfusion, Big Pun, Little Brother, Raekwon, Artifacts, Big L, AZ, Kool G Rap, Capone-N-Noreaga, Jay-Z and more. Dig into these remixes from Tuff Kong's crates below...

Gang Starr "Step In The Arena" (Press Kit: Jan. 15, 1991)

Gang Starr's innovative synthesis of jazz samples, rap rhymes and hip hop production first caught the public's ear with "Jazz Thing," the masterful tribute to the achievements of jazz that accompanied the closing credits of Spike Lee's latest film, "Mo' Better Blues." With the release of Step In The Arena, their debut recording for Chrysalis/Cooltempo Records, Gang Starr -- rapper extraordinaire G.U.R.U. and his partner, scratch and beat expert DJ Premier -- leave no doubt that they are a distinctive and vital musical team. Their first single, "Just To Get a Rap" / "Who's Gonna Take The Weight," sets the tone for a climb to the top of hip hop with infectious beats and real-deal rhymes -- a refreshing blend of intelligence and fun. On the title track, "Step In The Arena," as well as cuts like "Check The Technique," "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" and "Take a Rest," DJ Premier and G.U.R.U. style themselves as Herculean gladiators of rhythm and rhyme who are committed to battling the sonic cliches and social irresponsibility of those performers who have given rap a bad rep. Just as prominent are the selections -- "Street Ministry," "Say Your Prayers," "As I Ready My Essay," "The Meaning of the Name" and "Form of Intellect" -- which speak directly to the dancer/listener about Gang Starr's positive philosophy over a variety of seductively mellow tempos and instrumental textures rarely heard in rap. On the other hand, it can't get much funkier than than the jeep drum boom bass of "Precisely the Right Rhymes" and the churning James Brown-derived track of their message of groupies, "What You Want This Time?" Before the success of "Jazz Thing," the Brooklyn-based team paid some serious dues on the New York scene. Unpleasant experiences with their first label inspired the pointed lyrics of "Execution of a Champ," while the problems of an entertainer maintaining a relationship prompted the deeply-felt "Lovesick." Cont'd...

So how did this dynamic duo come together? Believe it or not DJ Premier and Guru met over the phone. Premier was in search of a rap partner and Guru was looking for a new DJ. Their former label played the role of matchmaker by bringing the two together over the phone. Premier played Guru some beats and it was love at first hearing. Within two and a half weeks they had produced their first recording, No More Mr. Nice Guy. Although the album sold 100,000 units things went sour with their label and Gang Starr found themselves in a purgatory of sorts. Gang Starr's fortunes took a turn for the better when Spike Lee saw their video on MTV and then bought a copy of No More... One track in particular, "Jazz Music," gave Lee the idea that Gang Starr could contribute something valuable to the film. Lee put Gang Starr together with jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis who was handling the music for "Mo' Better Blues," and they collaborated to create "Jazz Thing." On the heels of that success came Gang Starr signing with Chrysalis. Cont'd...

The prospect of stardom has left Gang Starr unaffected. DJ Premier is a self-professed mystery man who remains reluctant to talk much about himself. What he does reveal, however, is instructive. A Brooklyn native, Premier has been a fanatic for music since he was a tot. He estimates that he has a record collection of several thousand ranging through jazz, classical, rock, r&b and gospel among other styles of music. He plays several instruments by ear including saxophone, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums. Premier's passion for music led to his running a record store in Houston, Texas while completing studies at Prairie View A&M University. The son of a Boston municipal court judge and a self-confessed rebel in a family of superachievers, Guru has exchanged his family name for an acronym that stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal. Guru started rhyming at parties while studying Business Administration at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Upon graduation the challenge of the New York rap scene left Guru no choice but to relocate. He now considers himself a true Brooklyn homeboy as well as a friend and kindred soul to Chuck D and KRS-One. While not a practicing Muslim, Guru is strongly influenced by the spirituality and principles of Islam. At the same time he is streetwise enough to have weathered a stint as a juvenile caseworker for a maximum detention home. All of these experiences and influences have helped to crystalize Guru's belief that hip hop must be more than just another musical commodity. It must be a progressive social movement in which artists are accountable for the impact of their music and lyrics. Clearly there is much more to DJ Premier and Guru than the boisterous braggadocio that has dominated rap music. They step in the area with gusto, not to be macho, but as a way of announcing that they are ready to shoulder their share of the weight. - Press Kit, 1991. My favorite group of all time, periodT....

Cordae "From a Bird's Eye View" (Album Stream)

From a Birds Eye View is Cordae’s sophomore studio album, which follows the Maryland rapper’s phenomenal 2019 debut album, The Lost Boy. After announcing it on his birthday, Cordae dropped the Roddy Ricch-assisted single “Gifted,” on August 27, 2020 alongside a Cole Bennett-directed music video as the album’s first single. Nearly two months after the release of “Gifted,” he dropped “The Parables,” though its the song's remix that appears as a bonus track on the album featuring Eminem. Cordae’s first release of 2021 took the form of April’s JUST UNTIL…, a four-track EP intended as a teaser for the album. On its cover, Cordae hints at the project’s impending release: See you soon, album almost done. –Cordae. On December 3, he released the project’s final single, the Lil Wayne-assisted “Sinister.” Just days later, on December 8, he revealed the album’s title, artwork, and release date of January 14, 2022, parodying Steve Jobs' reveal of the iPhone from 2007. The Q-Tip track, "More Life," got heavy burn off JUST UNTIL..., and the track "Jean-Michael" off From a Bird's Eye View has been getting equal rotation for me. I said he was one to watch several years back, and the success of his music is all the proof needed. Check his new LP below...

KRS-One vs. PM Dawn (January 13, 1992)

On January 13, 1992, KRS-One responded to remarks P.M. Dawn’s Prince Be had made in an issue of Details magazine, where Be said “KRS-One wants to be a teacher, but a teacher of what?” by throwing him off stage at New York’s Sound Factory. Kid Capri spoke on the incident in a Rap Radar interview a few years ago saying, "I was standing right there at The Sound Factory... [KRS-One] walked in with a bunch of people that I’d never seen him with—a whole different crew. He had [Boogie Down Productions possé members] Willie D. and I.C.U. with him. He had those two [usual accomplices] with him... They sat on the windowsill [next to the stage]. It was a P.M. Dawn show [with] Super Cat.” Kid Capri continued, “So P.M. Dawn comes on stage… it was [Prince Be] and [DJ Minutemix] in the booth, and it’s three girls [doing background singing]…They let him do his first song. When the hit started, it was all bad, man. Yo, they rushed on the stage—Kris and the whole crew…Kris grabbed the mic from [Prince Be]. I.C.U. grabbed all the girls, hugged them and picked them up at the same time [and led them offstage]. When Kris grabbed the mic, Will’ hit [Prince Be], which threw him offstage... Kenny [Parker] went in the [DJ] booth, threw the DJ out the booth. When the Kris threw them offstage [DJ Kenny Parker] threw on ‘South Bronx.’ It felt like the floor was gonna cave in. What was crazy was, when Kris left, Super Cat was supposed to be next. [However] when Kris left, the whole crowd [left and was] walking down the street with him. It looked like a video! Super Cat was on stage with nobody [left]. It was monumental!” Props to AFH for the transcription. The video below further discusses the issue and that infamous night. Art by Andre LeRoy Davis for The Source Magazine's The Last Word. R.I.P., Prince Be of P.M. Dawn ('88-16).

DJ Eclipse "The Halftime Show" (93-97 w/ J-Live, 2/4/04)

Airing on February 4, 2004, this is DJ Eclipse and DJ Skizz on the The Halftime Show, their long-running show on WNYU. The theme of the show was a tribute to the years 1993 to 1997, and their esteemed guest was none other than underground titan, J-Live. You'll hear tracks from Channel Live, Nine, Dilated Peoples, Hurricane G, Money Boss Players, Da Youngstas, Kukoo Da Baga Bonez, Mobb Deep & Xzibit, Cappadonna, KRS-One, Neek the Exotic, Hoodratz, Masta Ace, Mr. Voodoo of Natural Elements and lots more. Props to the OG, DJ Eclipse, still reppin' the best of our culture on his Rap Is Outta Control Show with original Halftime Show member, DJ Riz. Listen to the mix below...

Blu "Soul Amazing Part 9" (Mix, 2020)

DJ Cristano mixes the latest offering from Blu in his long-running mixtape series, Soul Amazing. Part 9 boasts feature verses from Blu on collaborative tracks with Psychedlic Ensemble, DJ Manipulator, Left Bank, L'Orange, Exile, Choosey, Dag Savage, Zion I, Chong Wizard, Mickey Factz, MED, Nolan the Ninja, Reckonize Real, Nappy High, Blue Notes, Pearl Gates, Magno Garcia, Lil Moe, Localblac, Cashus King, Mr. Hong, Amerigo Gazaway, Jimmy Valentine, Wally Clark, J57, J Rawls, Jehst, Apollo Lofton, Definite Mass and lots more. The mix was apparently released in the winter 2020, but I'm late yet again to some new music. You know the deal, it's hard to keep up with music these days! I've said it before, so why not again - Blu remains one of my favorite writers/lyricists. Listen to the mix below...

Smif-N-Wessun "Dah Shinin' Originals" (Mix by DJ Big Texas)

DJ Big Texas released this mix on January 10th 2015, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Smif-N-Wessun's debut album, Dah Shinin'. Flipping through various album samples and vocals from Smif-N-Wessun's classic debut, this is a fine mix to revisit from DJ Big Texas. Upon its release in 1995, Smif-n-Wessun's Dah Shinin' was unfortunately swept aside by the popular onslaught of the Notorious B.I.G. and the Wu-Tang Clan. That's too bad, because the group's album is a masterpiece of New York City crime rap. The stars of the album aren't really the two MCs, Tek and Steele, but the Beatminerz production team. They were responsible for the groundbreaking tracks on Black Moon's Enta da Stage, the album on which Smif-n-Wessun made their debut, and they continued their strong track record on Dah Shinin'. Da Beatminerz craft their songs with deep, fluid basslines and moody jazz samples. On Smif-n-Wessun's debut, they created a series of hazy soundscapes perfect for the group's brand of lyrical mayhem. Their smoked-out rhymes match the beats perfectly. Indeed, few hip-hop albums offer such a unified coherent effort. Dah Shinin' is certainly Smif-n-Wessun's strongest album, and it represents da Beatminerz's high point as well. - AllMusic. Dig into DJ Big Texas' sample mix below, and also revisit the album and various promo items in the archives...

DJ Baby G "Bomb Ass Tape" (Mixtape, 1994)

This is DJ Baby G of Mad Flava's Bomb Ass Tape from 1994. The DMC champion put his foot in two mix tapes in this series with artwork by Mosquito. The tape features tracks from Mad Flava, Biz Markie, Terror Fabulous, Nas, Lady of Rage, Souls of Mischief, Fat Joe, N-TYCE, Ice Cube, Casual, Gang Starr, Sade, Eazy-E, Wu-Tang Clan, The Beatnuts, Artifacts, Lords of the Underground, Jeru The Damaja, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One, The Wascals, Bahamadia, Masta Ace, and lots more. As you can see, DJ Baby G represented the whole hip-hop at that time, it's not stuck in one location or one specific sound. Solid transitions, cuts and flips all over this mix tape. The tape was uploaded by DJ Baby G a while back, but he's still got a fresh link to download if you'd like HERE. In the meantime, you can stream it below, and definitely look out for Bomb Ass Tape 2 in a future post.

Just Blaze "90's Flava, Volume 1" (Mixtape, 2008)

Last year we celebrated Just Blaze's born day with a quick playlist with some of my favorite jawns in his extensive, impressive catalog! This year I'd planned to share the NYE 2022 playlist that he created for his set with Apple Music, but it seems Apple doesn't embed properly here, so click HERE for that - lots of classic records and party anthems with a genre-bending twist only Just Blaze could deliver. So, moving onward, here's a mixtape he did in 2008 called "90's Flava, Volume 1." It features a mix of some of Just Blaze's personal favorite selections from the 90s, including Main Source, A Tribe Called Quest, Das EFX, De La Soul, New Edition, Brand Nubian, Positive K, Grand Daddy I.U., Intelligent Hoodlum, Marley Marl, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Big L, Jeru The Damaja, Artifacts, Jamal, Illegal, O.G.C., Black Moon, Busta Rhymes, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Miilkbone, Too Short, D'Angelo, Xzibit, Natural Elements, AZ, Nas, and lots more. You can expect he'll talk a bit too much over the transitions, but it's a nice mix of tracks ranging from underground hip-hop, classic hip-hop and R&B. Happy Born Day to one of the G.O.A.T.s, Just Blaze! Listen to 90's Flava mix below...

$tay Puft "$tay-Wu: Volume 1" (Mixtape)

$tay Puft is the DJ alter-ego of TJ Firestone, a designer, writer and voice over artist based in Los Angeles. This mix tape randomly appeared on my timeline, and I gave it some run... worth of a share for y'all to check out, too. He shared the following message with the mix: "Happy Wu-Year! All praise due to the mighty WU-TANG CLAN. This tape is stitched together from solo joints, soundtrack work, and compilation albums mostly from the post 8 Diagrams era. I picked my favorite tracks and cut them into one mixtape that hopefully pays proper homage and respect to the almighty WU-TANG CLAN." I included a picture of the mix's tracklist above to reference, but it's the Wu-Tang Clan... just click play below and enjoy. Keep an eye out for additional volumes in his $tay-Wu series...

Bambu De Asiatic "The Reclamation" (Album Stream)

Here's the latest album from Bambu De Asiatic, The Reclamation, produced entirely by my brother Supastition. With the release, Bambu shared the following message, "Supastition started these beat sessions reminiscent of the Correct Techniques beat sessions we used to do on the Collective Efforts web forum back in the day, and I ended up rocking one of his beats just for fun. I can't really explain how the rest of the album came together - it was almost effortless - there was something about Supa's beats that just spoke to me. He would send over a beat, I would write to it that night, record it the next day, and send him back an almost finished song. Before we knew it, we had a full length album." I remember Supastition telling me he was working behind the scenes on the production for this project, and before I knew it was being mixed down, visuals were being finalized, and now it's officially released. Supa also has a couple vocal features on the album, as well as cuts from DJ Jon Doe, DJ Dug Boogie and DJ Mafioso. The LP came out dope, dig into The Reclamation...

You're Watching Video Music Box (Video)

You're Watching Video Music Box is the untold story of the world’s longest running video show, Video Music Box. A hip hop mainstay since 1983, Video Music Box gave a platform to artists like Jay-Z, Nas and Mary J. Blige before they hit it big. Video Music Box was launched and hosted in New York City by visionary DJ and MC Ralph McDaniels. With four decades of never-before-seen footage from McDaniel’s packed vault, the film spotlights the series’ global influence on Hip Hop, along with his professional and personal triumphs. Ralph McDaniels has been instrumental in documenting the evolution of Hip-Hop culture... he's directed and produced over 400 music videos from: Wu-Tang Clan, “C.R.E.A.M” (1993); Nas, “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” (1994); Roxanne Shanté, “Roxanne-Roxanne” (1995); Black Moon "Who Got The Props" (1993), to name a few. He also co-produced two feature films, including “Juice” (1992), “Roxanne Roxanne” (2018) and countless documentaries. It's hard to put to words the influence this had on me growing up, and it's unfortunate I'm this late to actually sit and watch the documentary celebrating its importance. But, here I am... watch the official trailer below, and props to Nasir Jones for his role in helping to bring this documentary to the people. It ain't hard to tell...

DJ Yoda "Jewbonics" (Mixtape, 1999)

Worldclass DJ Yoda mixes a wide range of vocal samples and breaks, along with tracks from MF Doom, Mr. Complex, Mudd Family, Akrobatik and Mr. Lif, O.C. and Buckwild, Sound Providers, Mike Zoot, LootPack, Kombo, Eminem, Cut Chemist, and more - but it's mostly breaks and samples in his signature style that delivers this is one phenomenal mix tape. I believe it was only ever available on cassette and was released with FatLace in 1998-1999. Postie explains the tape on his Mixcloud as "Yoda's 1st genuine cut-n-paste masterpiece." A tapestry of cartoons, breaks, movie snippets and rap music. Props to him for the upload and others in this similar genre of mixes. It's the art of the mix, not the individual tracks that makes it great - appreciate it for what it is as a full listen below...

The "Higher Learning" Soundtrack (1995)

Reflecting the mixed musical tastes of the film's university population, the soundtrack to John Singleton's Higher Learning (1995) features a broad sampling of rap, modern folk, indie, and R&B music. The majority of these sides were cut especially for the soundtrack, with standouts including tracks by Ice Cube, Outkast, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Liz Phair, and Rage Against the Machine. Some club soul comes courtesy of the Brand New Heavies and Raphael Saadiq of Tony! Toni! Toné! fame, while Eve's Plum adds some power-chord pop, and bassist Stanley Clarke updates his fusion funk sound on the collection's lone instrumental. There's also Tori Amos chipping in with her own "Butterfly" and a cover of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" (While Amos fans are sure to be ecstatic, those a bit weary of the singer's particular brand of melodrama will find no relief). Minor squabbles aside, this is a fine soundtrack. - AllMusic. You can't argue with Raphael Saadiq's "Ask of You" and the overall quality of the film. From Omar Epps to Lawrence Fishburne to Tyra Banks; Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes and the performance of Michael Rapaport... all stellar in '95. When is the last time you revisited this film? Go back, and also check out the soundtrack which was released on this day in 1995. Unfortunately the OST isn't streaming on Spotify, but I trust you can dig it up easily enough...

Skillz "2021 Rap Up" (End of an Era)

The End Of An Era. After 20 years of his annual “Rap Up” series, Skillz bows out gracefully with his final one. Over JAY-Z’s “Encore”, the rap veteran gives his take on some of 2021’s noteworthy moments from politics to hip hop culture, and everything else in between. The visuals feature clips of headlines, his career, and a commentary of the history of his "Rap Up" series. That’s all folks. - RapRadar. Rest in Peace, DMX and Biz Markie; The LOX's epic performance at Verzuz and other key moments make this an epic piece of hip-hop history. On his Twitter page, Skillz shared, "That's it for me y'all... An even 20. And if you know me? You know trolling aint me, Im too old for that. All I ask is that this time next year? You respect my decision. Thanks for everything. Couldnt have done it w/o yall!" Amen. Thanks for 20 years of rap and lyrical excellence with these "Rap-Up" joints. Dig into it...

Welcome to 2022...

We're living in very trying times... a lot of uncertainty. But, as many of us know, some of the greatest art is created during struggle, so we look to talented creatives to say and express thoughts that we can relate to and that reflect these times. We've learned how fragile things can be for artists who live check to check, unable to tour and perform like they used to - and without health insurance. Still, music persevered and artists have found their way through the maze. In 2021, Verzuz became a staple of performance-based art: The Lox vs. Dipset, Big Daddy Kane vs. KRS-One, Ja Rule vs. Fat Joe, Raekwon vs. Ghostface Killah, etc. DJ Premier came through with the So Wassup? video series that gave me life; podcasts like Take It Personal, Legendize, Vinyl Esquire, What Had Happened Was, Showoff Your Gems, Drink Champs, Joe Budden's Podcast and more gave us an escape, too. DJs like J. Period, Statik Selektah, DJ Filthy Rich, Donnie Propa and more stepped up to entertain with their mixes. Albums from Breeze Brewin, Pharoahe Monch (Th1rt3en), The Alchemist, Blu, Jay Electronica, J. Cole, Evidence, Blu, Nas, AZ, Common, Big Ghost, Rasheed Chappell and more, were atop my playlist all year. But... of course, tragedy continued to hit us hard with the loss of friends, loved ones, and artists like Zumbi of Zion I, Shock G of Digital Underground, Biz Markie, Gift of Gab, DMX, Ricky Powell, Double K of P.U.T.S., Michael K. Williams and more. It's terribly hard to predict if it'll be more of the same in 2022, or if we'll finally turn the corner, but whatever it is, nothing will be the same again. My message to everyone reading this is to hold on and survive. Don't fight change, find ways to navigate this new normal and you'll come out the other side stronger than before. I apologize, once again, for all the delays in my posts. One love. - DJ Sav One. Oh, and 30 years since the "Happy New Year" drawing below from the talented Andre LeRoy Davis...