The Geto Boys - The Geto Boys (Orginal Version)

Just a little Sunday treat for you. This is the O.G. version and for those that don't know what I'm talking about... --Philaflava

This is the Geto Boys 1990 self-titled album, the original version, before it was shelved by the record company. You see, the Geto Boys used a sample from the Steve Miller Band song "The Joker," on track #4, Gangster of Love. This however, was an unlicensed sample, and Steve Miller sued the record company over its use, to which the record company decided to shelve this album. This album was the Geto Boys first album available nationally, while all their previous releases as the Ghetto Boys were on a more local/regional level. This sample was also used on their earlier version of this album as the Ghetto Boys called Grip It On That Other Level. However, it was also a different recording session and so it was a completely different take and did not sound the same lyrically/vocally.

After a couple years, the Geto Boys had released more albums and gained in considerable popularity. The record company decided to re-release this album, but with an altered backing track for Gangster of Love. The altered version utilized a sample of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama and a "Gangsta Boogie" sample for the chorus. For those who purchased the re-release of the Geto Boys self-titled album, they got this new version of the song which if you think about it, doesn't make as much sense as the original version which samples Steve Miller saying "call me...call me...yeah, call me the gangster of love." Anyhow, it seems that everyone who has ripped this album and put it online, has put the re-release version online. Well I have come to save the day and give you all the original out-of-print version that came out in 1990.

1. F#@* 'Em

2. Size Ain't s**t
3. Mind Of A Lunatic
4. Gangster Of Love
5. Trigga Happy Nigga
6. Life In The Fast Lane
7. Assassins
8. Do It Like A G.O.
9. Read These Nikes
0. Talkin' Loud Ain't Saying Nothin'
11. Scarface
12. Let A Ho Be A Ho
13. City Under Siege

Download

Peace to KingSkullie for the rip and GUCCI C for the link.

Produce-A-Lot

When we talk about our "Top 5" producers, we almost never see the following names: John Bido, N.O. Joe, Brad Jordan, Mike Dean or James Smith.

This production team is behind putting Houston on hiphop's map. They are Rap-A-Lot's in-house production team, behind Geto Boy's classics "Mind Playing Tricks On Me", "Gangster Of Love", "I Aint With Being Broke".

GETO BOY - I AINT WITH BEING BROKE


It's really hard to go through Rap-A-Lot credits, because they don't detail by tracks, but rather just put "album produced by" and then list off all the names. Those aforementioned names always appear on almost every Rap-A-Lot product, but in different order. Perfect example: 5th Ward Boyz - Ghetto Dope EP. "Producer - James Smith, John Bido, Mike Dean, N.O. Joe". Echo Leader mentioned this on his Vintage Rap-A-Lot post.




Mike Dean and Devin argue over weed

Sometimes you can tell who did which beat by the sound, for example Mike Dean plays a lot of crisper guitars, so you know it's him behind quite a few tracks on that Geto Boys "Resurrection" album. Mike also did quite a bit of engineering and mastering for Rap-A-Lot, so his name and sound appears even when his beats don't.


Brad Jordan

Brad Jordan, better known as the MC Scarface, likes his deeper yet nasal bass, so Menace Clan's "What You Say" has that signature synth bass that also comes up again in Scarface's "My Homiez". He also seems to enjoy slow-roll BPM's which is fine with me!

MENACE CLAN - WHAT YOU SAYIN' (dope fuckin track!)


SCARFACE - MY HOMIEZ


Before we go any further, a perfect example of how they work together is adding Brad's slow gangsta funk wit Mike Dean's fascination for hi-figh sounds in Facemobs "Stay True".

FACEMOB - STAY TRUE


Bido has a dope production style. And he has had a lot of time and experience to perfect it, since he is definitely the first of the group to really put in work for Rap-A-Lot, through "Grip It! On That Other Level" back in '89. All those dirty vinyl drum loops and soul samples are brought to life through quite a few of his beats. Scarface's "Street Life" from the South Central soundtrack and Too Much Troubles "Family" show off this resurrecting style.

Geto Boys - Stret Life


Too Much Troubles "Family"




N.O. Joe

N.O. Joe brings more synth sounds, but always with real minimalistic results and his "gumbo funk" as he calls it. A non Rap-A-Lot track that really highlights his production is AZ's "Doe or Die", where only during the chorus are there more synthetic g-strings. Scarface's "Friday Night" from the Friday soundtrack showcases the same style.

AZ - DOE OR DIE


SCARFACE - FRIDAY NIGHT


They have recycled a few of their own beats for different albums. Maybe they really liked their own tunes? These two have the same piano loops.

Willie D - Die
Bushwick Bill - Ever So Clear

Willie D - Die


Bushwick Bill - Ever So Clear




And with these two, well, it certainly sounds like a "pt.1 and pt.2" situation.

Geto Boys - Straight Gangsterism
Big Mike - On Da Real

Geto Boys - Straight Gangsterism


Big Mike - On Da Real


Those four mentioned are the main musical producers, and I have a feeling that even though we see "James Smith" on production credits, he was probably more of the Executive Producer than the musical kind. James, or Prince J, is the business man/mind behind the whole Rap-A-Lot empire, so it doesn't surprise me much to see him dipping his hand in the production credits.

Now, mind you that I have only picked the songs that best describe each producers style, but one day I would like to make a Best of Rap-A-Lot, but until then, once again I gotta redirect you to Echo's recent post "Vintage Rap-A-Lot"


-- cenzi stiles

Songs Of Death

break out the egg nog and prepare the christmas carols, let's talk about death.
in hip hop, death is usually approached from a "i'm gonna kill you" perspective. however, there are occasions when rappers get a little deeper and look at their own mortality or the passing of a close one. so, here's a mix of songs where mc's discuss the many angles of death. i omitted the most famous songs of this genre ("crossroads". "T.R.O.Y.", "reminding me (of sef)" and "i'll be missing you") cause who really needs to be put on to those songs?

http://www.mediafire.com/?xhnmqozitkt
1)I'm dead: scarface
2)the wreckoning: lateef
3)love comes and goes: ed o.g. and da bulldogs
4)for da brothaz: kool g rap
5)good die young: bee why
6)meditations on death: nitebreed
7)bloody love letter: MF grimm
8)this is for the brothers (jazz version): two kings in a cipher
9)1-800-suicide: gravediggaz
10)i didn't ask to come: the goodie mob
11)3 card molly: c-rayz walz
12)the thief in the night: aceyalone
13)the foundation: MOP
14)death: da omen
15)the funeral: the clipse

special thanks to god mc, thun, roy johnson, and jaz for the help.

--blockhead