Pete Rock & Bumpy Knuckles 1/16/10

The Soul Brother #1 Pete Rock just rocked over at Bumpy Knucles's ustream Krup Mob Radio. Not only was this a great show but at the end, Foxxx hooked up the SP-1200 that Pete Rock used to produce on 2000's classic Industry Shakedown and he performed it live! I'm glad that I was watching it and that it was being recorded!

-- Thomas V

Pete Rock & CL Smooth Reunited On Stage 11/09/09

WORD!! Sorry if you already saw this on other blogs already, but it had to be posted here for obvious reasons. Not much info out there about this and I have no idea if this implies any future endeavors between the duo. But we can only hope. Apparently they are touring Europe together right now. This show was in London at Relentless Garage, Highbury.

Also, if you didn't know, Mr.Chop recently dropped an album of Pete Rock beats that he covered with some extra instrumentalists, more in the psyche/funk/jazz vein, but dope. Philaflava featured the T.R.O.Y. cover on the latest Sounds Like The 90's compilation.

But here's the kicker: Sometime in the near future, a couple of those beats will be released on 45's and will have CL Smooth rhyming on them. I don't know if he's just going to rhyme the same verses again or what, though. Stay tuned.

Thanks to CDubb over at the T.R.O.Y. forum for pulling my coat to this. Pause.

--Verge

Sounds Like The 90s (Volume 11)

11 volumes deep and we're not stopping anytime soon. Next month we'll be bringing you the Best of Sounds Like The 90s, then regroup for the new year. We're always accepting mp3 and your suggestions to help create these compilations. No more wasting your time, just download this! -Philaflava

Sounds Like The 90s (Volume 11)

01. Juice Crew - Mr. Magic Tribute
02. Cormega - Define Yourself feat. Tragedy Khadafi & Havoc
03. Jay Electronica - Suckas
04. Saigon - Say Yes Pt. 2
05. Beanie Sigel - What You Talkin' Bout
06. Remarkable Mayor - Doomz Day
07. O.C. - Life (Roc Raida Tribue)
08. Senor Kaos - 20 Years High & Rising (Homage To De La Soul) feat. Von Pea & Homeboy Sandman
09. Fashawn - Samsonite Man feat. Blu
10. Sene - WhyBother?
11. People Under The Stairs - DQMOT (Thes One Remix)
12. Del The Funky Homosapien & Tame One - Flashback
13. Cormega - Live And Learn (prod. Pete Rock)
14. Curren$y - On My Way
15. Godamus Rhyme - Mass Appeal feat. Mr. S.O.S.
16. Masta Ace & Edo G - Pass The Mic feat. KRS-One
17. (Bonus Track) Mr. Chop - T.R.O.Y.

Download

Back-Up #1

Back-Up #2

Back-Up #3

Catch up an all 11 volumes here.

Props to Strategy for the tagged version & Blake Reznik and Tal Danan for the sick cover.

dirt_dog Remix Pack 3

Here we go again with round 3 of the dirt_dog Remix Pack. For this set of 5 songs I decided to go with the Pete Rock and DJ Premier remixes that I used to bump from my cd single collection. Whenever a discussion about great remixes comes up, everyone praises the Pete Rock "Shut Em Down" remix. Personally I love it too, but I've always felt that his version of "Nighttrain" was completely overlooked. If you missed Remix Pack 1 or 2, go HERE or HERE.

Remix Pack 3

01 Public Enemy-Nighttrain (Pete Rock Strong Island Mt. Vernon Meltdown)

02 Shyheim-On & On (Premier Remix)

03 Das EFX-Real Hip Hop (Pete Rock Remix)

04 Blahzay Blahzay-Danger (DJ Premier Remix Street Mix)

05 EPMD-Rampage (Hardcore To The Head Mix) feat. L.L. Cool J

DOWNLOAD

enjoy,

--dirt_dog

Brand Nubian - The Now Rule Files EP [1989-1997]

Here it is! One Leg Up Records comes through with another batch of unreleased tracks and demo mixes. This time they ran down on Puba for some ill Brand Nubian joints most of us never knew about. I'm typing this in advance so you can get this download asap.

From the snippets, "How Ya Livin'", "Mind Your Business"(original mix), and "Probable Cause"(original mix) are sounding incredible. "Love Vs. Hate"(alternative mix) sounds basically the same, except Sadat kicks a completely different verse. There might be minor differences with the beat, but nothing that I immediately noticed.

Here's Haj "4XL" from OLU's description:

“How Ya Livin’” is a previously unheard of demo recorded prior to “One For All” and it is produced by none other than, the chocolate boy wonder, Pete Rock! The vintage track comes complete with the Soul Brother #1's trademark cuts as well. “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That” is an uptempo early Nubian joint as well. On this track you hear Puba taking parting shots at Strong City Records and declaring that both his Masters of Ceremony days and style is over! “The Devil” is a conscious record, that was scrapped prior to “One For All”, but serious Grand Puba fans will undoubtedly recognize that the hook and song concept was later revisited for the track “Soul Controller” on Puba’s debut LP, “Reel To Reel”. “Mind Your Business”, as you might recall, was a b-side only track released during “Reel To Reel”. This original version sports a Hall and Oates sample that could not be cleared, prompting Dante Ross / Stimulated Dummies to remix the song for the 12”. Fortunately in 2009, the version that Grand Puba preferred is finally available to collectors. “Where is Puba?” is somewhat of an early version of “Check It Out”. The vocalist that appears on this track was an artist who Puba was recording with before Mary J. Blige. The original version of “Probable Cause” features a different beat then the one that made the final version of “Foundation”. As you might recall, the released version used the Grover Washington Jr. “Knucklehead” sample (best known on K-Solo’s “Fugitive”). This version is a LOT better in my opinion and I have no idea why they changed it? Last but not least, the “Love vs. Hate” alternate version treats us to a completely different Sadat X vocal performance and still maintains to be a favorite from the “Foundation” project.

[Download here]

[Back up Link]

Thanks to HAJ at One Leg Up for digging up unreleased gems that we actually care about.

If you need to catch up on all of their previous "limited" vinyls, download them all here.

--Verge

S.O.U.L. Samples

S.O.U.L. is an obscure early 70s funk group that released some of the absolute dopest tracks from that era. They recorded two albums in between the years of 1971 and 1973: "What Is It" and "Can You Feel It". From what I can gather, they disbanded shortly after the release of their second album, so unfortunately, their entire catalog contains less than 20 tracks. Producers that have sampled S.O.U.L. include Pete Rock, Marley Marl, The Large Professor, The Jungle Brothers, MF Doom, etc.

S.O.U.L. - Samples
1. S.O.U.L. - Burning Spear
2. Organized Konfusion - Releasing Hypnotical Gases
3. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Go With The Flow
4. S.O.U.L. - Soul
5. Slick Rick - A Letter
6. Jungle Brothers - In Dayz 2 Come
7. Main Source - Fakin' The Funk
8. S.O.U.L. - Piece Of Mind
9. Craig G - What You're Used To
10. Main Source - Peace Is Not The Word To Play
11. S.O.U.L. - Message From A Black Man
12. MF Doom - Sarsaparilla (Instrumental)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ztt5nmzzj31

Preview:

S.O.U.L. - Burning Spear


S.O.U.L. - Soul


S.O.U.L. - Piece Of Mind


S.O.U.L. - Message From A Black Man


--Roy Johnson

Every One Leg Up Record

Last month we laced you with the Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth "Basement Demos" EP prior to it dropping. In fact, we've pretty much done that with all their releases. Big shout-out to One Leg Up, but here in the U.S. we're living in what you might call a recession so dropping $80 on a piece of wax doesn't rank high on the priority list.

So for those who didn't get a chance to cop or download, now you can get them all-in-one!

Shouts to kotep puttin' in the work. --Philaflava

Download Here

OLU-001 Herb McGruff The Demo EP
OLU-002 Cenobites, The Demented Thoughts EP
OLU-003 Lord Digga The High Plains Drifter EP
OLU-004 DJ Mike Smooth Presents Shorty Long The South Boogie EP
OLU-005 Beatnuts, The Intoxicated Demos
OLU-006 Pete Rock And C.L. Smooth Basement Demos EP
OLU-LTD1 Godfather Don The Ill Funk Freaker EP

And attention struggling rappers. If you have some DATs tucked away that you'd like to release , hit up the guys at One Leg Up and get you some of that Euro money! We might bootleg in the U.S., but we do it with love. Surely you don't think the homies in Corona Queens are shelling out $100 on that Beatnuts record, do you? Well neither can we....

That is NOT Richard Pryor

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - The Basement Demos EP

One Leg Up kicks off their new series of rarities ["Crispy Nuggets"] with this EP of unreleased demos from Pete Rock and CL Smooth. This was ripped from my vinyl as soon as I got it and uploaded here, so I can't really give you a proper critique yet. But I listened while ripping, so I know it is worth a download. Shit, it's Pete Rock and CL Smooth. Of course it's worthy of being posted at the T.R.O.Y. blog.

Here's One Leg Up's description:

OLU Records has connected with C.L. Smooth to finally unearth some of the legendary sessions that were not included on the seminal "All Souled Out" EP. While these sessions always seemed to be a bit of an urban legend, a few of them had actually leaked on WBLS "In Control" back in the day. Once the debut EP was released, the duo quickly went on to change hip-hop history and these early tracks were all but forgotten! Fast forward to 2009.....Thought lost forever, 4XL has done the unexpected in working with C.L. to unearth these vintage treasures. Mastered and restored to optimum quality, this is a hip-hop goldmine, and this 5 track EP is a testament to the late 80's sound merging into the early 90's one. Of course, Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth were two of the main architects of this sharp turn in the golden era....Songs like the one-time WBLS exclusive "The Midnight Wrecka" and the fast-rap "Go C.L." sport an aggressive 1989/1990 feel that was probably scrapped in favor of updated material like "The Creator" or "The Good Life". Still the laid back "Cool and Calm" and "Down To Wreck Ya Body" head in the direction of the vintage "All Souled Out" flavor. Last, we are treated to a somewhat alternate version of "Go With The Flow". All the cuts are heavy on the scratching, courtesy of Pete Rock and it is lovely indeed! This is vintage Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth goodness and an essential to any Hip-Hop collection!

This alternate mix of Go With The Flow is probably my favorite cut upon first hearing this record-

http://www.divshare.com/direct/7416148-1ed.mp3

Apparently, there was an error when I zipped the folder and the Go With The Flow track didn't work.

So right above I added a separate link for that cut for those who already downloaded the original and below I fixed the mediafire link with the entire EP on it. Hopefully it works this time.

[Download EP here.]fixed

[Backup link here]missing Go with The Flow

Check for other rarities throughout the T.R.O.Y. blog here.

--Verge

Hot 97 Radio Freestyles Pt.2 (1996)

About 3 weeks ago, I posted a 12" containing a few Hot 97 radio freestyles from the likes of Nas, Cormega, ATCQ, Wu-Tang, and Heltah Skeltah. It was part of a series of vinyls called Freestyle AllStars released on Wild Style Records. I only owned volume 2 of the series .

After seeing a comment from dirt_dog, he informed me that he had a few of those other volumes. He immediately ripped all the volumes so that it could be shared to everyone. Below you will find all the artists involved on the first installment.

A1. Krs-One - Freestyle #1
A2. Pudgee - Freestyle #1
A3. Sadat X - Freestyle
A4. La The Darkman - Freestyle
B1. Pete Rock & INI - Freestyle
B2. Pudgee - Freestyle #2
B3. Method Man & Redman - Freestyle
B4. Krs-One - Freestyle #2
B5. Busta Rhymes & Rampage - Freestyle

Ripped exclusively by dirt_dog for The T.R.O.Y. Blog

Download

Other volumes coming soon.

-- Thomas V

XXL: Nas Illmatic, 15 Years Later

When was the last time you bought a hip-hop magazine? Basically, I never buy new hip-hop magazines but I had to make an exception for the new XXL April 2009 Issue. In the beginning of this month when the magazine cover was revealed, I noticed that there was going to be an article commemorating the 15th Anniversary of Nas's Classic 1994 LP "Illmatic". With subtitles of DJ Premier, Large Pro, Pete Rock, & Q-Tip, I knew that it was going to be worth the reading.

Yesterday, after copping the issue, I immediately skipped to the "Illmatic" article. I was stunned by seeing these old hi-res '94 pictures of Nas; there's a picture of Premier, Large Pro, Faith, Nas, Q-Tip, & L.E.S in the studio. I would like to thanks Timmotep Aku, Carl Chery, Clover Hope, Rob Markman, Starrene Rhett, Anslem Samuel for taking a trip down to memory lane and compiling a classic article on a perfect album. Below are all the representers who each took their time to talk on the making-of of their incredible work on the track which they appeared on. This isn't something that you've seen before, you will learn a lot of new trivia... Below that is the scan of the article.

Representers

• Nas
• Jungle
• Faith Newman-Orbach(Executive Producer)
  
• MC Serch
• DJ Premier
• Large Professor
• L.E.S.
• AZ
• Olu Dara
• Pete Rock
• T La Rock
• Busta Rhymes
• Grand Wizard
• Q-Tip

Download 9-Pages Scan (Hi-Res)

Make sure to support this issue by buying it at your local bookstore. This is the type of issue that will truly become a collectible. There are other noteworthy articles included in the issue that are worth reading after "Illmatic."

-- Thomas V

Editor's Note: Don't forget to grab today's other exclusive: Rakim "The Cellar EP".

Fades 'Em All...

In 1995, Ex-Illegal member Jamal released his solo debut titled "Last Chance, No Breaks". The album featured production from hip-hop heavyweights such as Redman, Erick Sermon, Easy Mo Bee, Rockwilder, etc. The album is mainly known for cuts such as Fades 'Em All, Keep it Real, Unfuckwittable, and more... I feel that it's just a '95 classic album + Jamal always had a nice delivery with his raw Philly rhymes.

Now it's time to talk about Jamal's most successful single titled "Fades Em' All". Originally produced by Redman & Rockwilder, "Fades 'Em All" made it all the way to #9 on the Billboard's Hot Rap Singles. Redman used his "P-Funkadelic Devil" technique perfectly for the beat creating a funky head nodder. The remix is totally different though as it features a soulful production remixed by the "Soul Brother" Pete Rock. It is one of the greatest Pete Rock Remixes but it never really gets the props it deserves. Finally, here we have a sequel of Fades 'Em All. Still Fades 'Em featured Shyheim The Rugged Child with Jamal who were basically the illest juveniles in the rap game at the time. The track never came out officially but I believe that it was played as an exclusive in '95/'96 on Marley Marl & Pete Rock's legendary show "Future Flavas".

Jamal - Fades 'Em All (Produced by Redman & Rockwilder)


Jamal - Fades 'Em All (Pete Rock Remix)


Jamal - Still Fades 'Em (Featuring Shyheim)


Download (All 3 Tracks)

-- Thomas V

You Can't Hold Us Down

A1. Can't Hold Us Down (Vocal Remix)
A2. Can't Hold Us Down (Instrumental Remix)
A3. Can't Hold Us Down (Acapella)
B1. Can't Hold Us Down (Vocal Babigezus Mix)
B2. Can't Hold Us Down (Yard Boy Mix)
B3. Can't Hold Us Down (Instrumental)

Download

Here's a dope release from 1996 that features Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth. Produced by Babegezus(I don't know who this is), Greg Nice rhymes alongside with two other emcees. The remix produced by Da Penguin(I don't know who that is either), is definitely better than the Babigezus mix. It's a Greg Nice anthem type of ish.

A1. So Tough (Radio Though)
A2. So Tough (Toughstrumental)
A3. So Tough (Tough A Pella)
B1. So Tough (Easy Mo Tough Mix)
B2. So Tough (Sid' Mellow Mix)
B3. Crazy Like A Foxxx

Download

Here is Freddie Foxxx's 12" release from 1994 for then-unreleased album Crazy Like A Foxxx. So Tough was released with three different mixes. The original was produced by S.I.D.(Naughty, Apache, Queen Latifah) and had a reggae vibe to it with Queen Latifah singing on the hook. Then you had the "Tough" version produced Easy Mo Bee which made it feel more rugged. The last mix & the best was remixed by S.I.D. . It gave it a more mellow sound and took away the singing by Queen Latifah. It was more radio-friendly. The last track "Crazy Like A Foxxx" is known for being a diss to Ultragmagnetic MC's.

A1. Wunderlust (Main Mix)
B1. Wunderlust (Instrumental)
B2. Wunderlust (Acapella)

Download




Here's a 1996 release by Rob-O of INI. As you can see on the picture, it says "Produced By Pete Rock" but it was actually produced by the Soul Brother's bro Grap Luva. It has the same type of vibe as any song from the "Center of Attention". Wunderlust would also be included on Rob-O's Rhyme Pro cd which featured all his old materials.

A1. Move It In Move It Out (Phat Mix)
A2. Move It In Move It Out (Phat Radio)
A3. Move It In Move It Out (Acapella)
B1. Move It In Move It Out (Phat Remix)
B2. Move It In Move It Out (Phat Nitty Gritty Mix)
B3. Move It In Move It Out (Phat Remix Instrumental)

Download

This next 1997 release comes from the Derelect Camp. Move It In Move It Out is produced by Rockwilder(Redman, Busta Rhymes) when he had just started to get a little hype. But I got to say that Phat Remix wins, even though it is remixed by an unknown producer.


Thanks to T.R.O.Y. Regular Lyrical Gymnastics who blessed us with these vinyls.

--Thomas V

The Mad Scientist - VLS, Samples, and a "Who Flipped It Better?" Battle

The Large Professor - The Mad Scientist b/w Spacey,Listen(Blast Off)

A1 The Mad Scientist(Street Version)

A2 The Mad Scientist(Clean)

A3 The Mad Scientist(Instrumental)

B1 Spacey(Street Version)

B2 Spacey(Clean)

B3 Listen(Blast Off)

Classic 12" single freshly ripped from vinyl @ 320kbps.

1st off,here's Large Pro's signature spacey sound that's used on "Listen(Blast Off)", as well as on other Extra P produced cuts(i.e. "Ultimate"). And here's the other space sound he used on this and some other tracks(i.e."Hard").

The singing at the very end is Stark Reality's "Comrades".

For "Spacey",LP proves his rhyme,"..and I betcha,the one who claims he's the best can't catch a beat like I catch it cause it's downright wretched..".See if you can catch all the pieces he chopped from this. This is an art form that people who dis hip hop as a musical form always overlook. Fuck'em.

Lastly, I'm gonna leave yall with something to leave a comment about. On his latest album, Pete Rock used the same sample for "The PJ's" as LP did for "The Mad Scientist". Except, the Chocolate Boy Wonder used several other samples and really went all out with it. I can't front, I'm more of an LP fan and his version is more of a head nodder to me. But the complexity and just plain smoothness in Pete's work is flawless. Build in the comments.

              Large Pro '96 vs. Pete Rock '07

                                           

                          The Mad Scientist

Download VLS here

Download the samples and Large Pro vs. Pete Rock here  

--Verge

T.R.O.Y. Guest Blogger w/9th Wonder

Top 10 Remixes I Wish I Woulda Did
by 9th Wonder

10. Ras Kass - Soul On Ice (Diamond D Remix)
Diamond changed the whole scope of the jam. He made it fierce.

9. Das Efx - Jussamen (Pete Rock Remix)
Man you talkin about making Das Efx sound soulful and sweet...Pete did it.

8. Fat Joe - Shit Is Real (Premier Remix)
Lord..Primo brings the winter calm with this one. Like the cold streets...

7. Ol' Dirty Bastard - Brooklyn Zoo (Lord Digga Remix)
Boy..now this remix is a jam that totally changed the spectrum of the song. It went from LOUD to sinister. Like chaotic to simple but still cold.

6. Das Efx - Real Hip Hop (Pete Rock Remix)
Pete said he did this remix in 15 minutes right before he had to go somewhere. WTF? Amazing.

5. Black Moon - Buck 'Em Down (Evil Dee Remix)
I listen to this remix everytime I get on and off a plane.Buckshot says "welcome to flight Black Moon." Yes!

4. Notorious B.I.G. - One More Chance (Tumblin' Dice Remix)
Arguably the best Party song EVER. Hip hop at his height and happiness. Best video. Everything!

3. Nas - It Aint Hard to Tell (Large Pro Remix)
NA-NA-NA-NAS. The way he used the biz sample, lord.

2. Black Moon - I Gotcha Opin (Evil Dee Remix)
The sexiest street remix ever. U can make love to the instrumental if u wanted to, hell it's Barry White. The video with the hockey jerseys..Buck rockin' a Penguin. He flows on this...

Drum roll...

1. Public Enemy - Shut 'Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)
All day, all night, all year. THIS IS THE GREATEST REMIX EVER.

Honorable mentions:
A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario (ATCQ Remix)
Puff Daddy - Been Around The World (Remix)
Group Home - Supa Star (Demo Version) *
Group Home - Up Against The Wall (Getaway Car Remix)*
D&D All-Stars - 1, 2 Pass It (Remix)*
Junior Mafia - Player Anthem (Remix)

*produced by DJ Premier

Check me out at www.Myspace.com/9thwondermusic and http://www.trueschoolcorp.com/.

--9th Wonder

Jeru The Damaja - Non-Album Tracks

Jeru The Damaja - Non-Album Tracks

1. Speak Ya Clout w/ Gangstarr & Lil' Dap
2. I'm The Man w/ Gangstarr & Lil' Dap
3. You Can't Stop The Prophet (Pete Rock Remix)
4. Come Clean (Scratch Remix)
5. Ya Playin' Yaself (Spinbad Blend)
6. Me Or The Papes (DJ Premier Remix)
7. Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers w/ Chubb Rock & O.C.
8. 1, 2 Pass It
9. 1, 2 Pass It (Remix)
10. Ya Playin' Yaself (MF Doom Blend)
11. 5 Deadly Venoms Freestyle
12. Tony Touch Freestyle
13. Freestyle w/ Afu Ra
14. Graffiti w/ Digable Planets
15. Suicide Or Murder w/ Bounty Killer
16. When I Flow w/ Walkin' Large
17. Me Or The Papes (Rae & Christian Remix)
18. Ya Playin' Yaself (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)
19. Flip The Mic
20. Friend Or Foe

http://www.mediafire.com/?dtr2ybjrxdn

--Roy Johnson