Big L - The Best of The Rest

This compilation showcases a dozen varied highlights of non-album cuts and unreleased tracks by Big L. It spans from his first recordings in ‘92 to his last live show in ’98. Most blogs focus on the best of Big L. We've heard all those tracks but this time we're focusing on the best of the rest. Tracks that don't always get mentioned and some hard to come across. We've hand picked 12 tracks in their best quality and put together this compilation for you. Stay tuned for more collabos with The T.R.O.Y. Blog and BigLOnline but for now enjoy The Best of The Rest. --Philaflava

The T.R.O.Y. Blog & Big L Online Presents..
Big L: The Best of the Rest.

01. Big L – Devil’s Son ’98 (Live in Amsterdam)
02. Lord Finesse – You Know What I’m About (Original Version) ft. Big L
03. Big L – Principal of the New School
04. Big L – Unexpected Flava
05. The Children of the Corner (Big L, Herb McGruff, Murda Mase, Killa Kam & Digga)
– Hell Up in Harlem (Extended DJ Ron G Uptown Mix)
06. Big L – We Got This (Alternate Version)
07. Big L – Let Me Find Out
08. Liz Lucci – We All Can’t Ball ft. Big L & Richie Thumbs
09. Bootsie – Harlem N.Y.C. (Beats 2 Blow Remix) ft. Big L & Herb McGruff
10. DJ Ron G – Exclusive 2003 Shit ft. Big L
11. Big L – Now or Never
12. Stephen Simmonds – Alone (Original Version) ft. Big L & Marquee

Concept and title by: Jason Gloss of Philaflava.
Cover and execution by: TheBigSleep of Big L Rarities (and BigLOnline).
Quality: Half are 192 / CBR and half are V2 / VBR. (65 MB for a dozen MP3s.)
Duration: Forty five minutes, forty seconds.

Download Mix

Track Info:

01. Recorded October 8th, 1998 for the Fat Beats Amsterdam Party (with Andre the Giant and Roc Raida on stage as well).
02. The first song L ever recorded. When he was seventeen, 1992. Unreleased (because Finesse wasn’t allowed to put anyone on who wasn’t signed to a label) until it was put it on From the Crates to the Files in 2003.
03. The first solo song L ever recorded, also in 1992, before Devil's Son. The first verse was used on Stretch & Bobbito that year but the rest went unheard until Finesse put it out last year on Rare Selections EP Vol. II.
04. Given to DJs but unreleased tag free (without voiceovers) until last year when Finesse put it out on Rare Selections EP Vol. I. ’91 Finesse remix instrumental beat for Large Pro, unused by Warner Bros., L’s vocals added in ’93 but deemed too outdated for Lifestylez.
05. Unreleased Ron G mix not included on the 2005 Children of the Corn Collector’s Edition CD (features all of The Children of the Corner except Bloodshed).
06. Part of this was used for The Triboro, unheard in it’s entirety until 2005’s The Archives, put out by Finesse.
07. Bootleg that surfaced within the last couple years. From the mixtape Classic Whites: The Illest White Labels Vol. I. Unknown year, production, source and origin.
08. ’98 vinyl single only release. Liz Lucci also went by the name Big Zil.
09. ’98 vinyl single only release.
10. 2003 Ron G Mixtape release, Da Thriller Blends. (Available in full on Recognize the Real: http://recogthereal.blogspot.com/2009/03/ron-g-da-thriller-blends.html )
11. Recorded in ’96 for L’s second Columbia LP, The Big Picture. The first time that album was given a name. Unreleased until 2005’s The Archives.
12. Recorded in ’97. Limited edition vinyl release.

Don't forget to check out Big L Rarities.

Best Of Westwood Radio Freestyles - Nas, Biggie, OC, Das Efx, Cam'Ron...

This was submitted by our friend Dj Step One from the TROY forum. If you're digging this, check his blog out: Only Built For zShare Links

"I’ve spent the last few weeks sorting through that dusty box of tapes that so many older Hip Hop heads have stashed away somewhere and have been digitizing the various treats I’ve come across.

As Hip Hop was scarce on English radio in the 90s, most of these tapes are recordings of Tim Westwood’s show on BBC Radio 1. Up until 1994, Westwood only broadcast in London and the surrounding area, first on pirate stations LWR and Kiss FM, and then legitimately on Capital FM.

A move to the BBC in 1994 gave him two 3 hour shows every week and meant that Hip Hop heads nationwide finally had the opportunity to hear first hand the exclusives and guest appearances that would make up Tim’s show. It often meant staying in on a Friday or Saturday night, but as some of these freestyles prove, it was worth it!

I was going to do a profile of Big Tim but then remembered that Stretch Armstrong gave him a mention on his blog a while back and I couldn’t think of a better person to rubber stamp Westwood’s contribution to Hip Hop radio."

Stretch Armstrong, speaking on The Flavor Unit track ‘The Flavor Unit Assassination Squad’:

"Bobbito and I got hip to this record via the homie Tim Westwood in London who used to have what may have been the most progressive hip-hop show on earth in the late 80's. Because he was free to operate outside of the beef that had split NYC rap radio in the late 80's but also was very close to both Red and Marley (though closer to Marley who eventually would broadcast a version of In Control on his show in the UK), Tim would bless the airwaves with crazy exclusives and remixes, AND, influenced by his roots in 80's Jamaican and UK dancehall, was the first, and perhaps only, hip-hop personality to get all the hot emcees to re-record their hits with his name in them, sound-clash style. Many in the UK complained that Tim didn't support home-grown talent, but we sure didn't care, 'cause we'd frequently hear shit from his tapes first, sometimes to never be heard anywhere else. I'd have to confirm it with Aaron Fuchs, but I believe Tuff City only released this record after we played it on KCR from a cassette from Westwood's show."

Previews:

Akinyele & Sadat X (1996)

Cam'Ron (1998)

Das Efx (1995)

Masta Ace (1998)

Nas & De La Soul (1996)

Biggie Smalls & Craig Mack (1995)

OC (1994)

Snoop, Daz, & Kurupt (1994)

Download in one folder here.

--Verge