Sway & Tech - Wake up Show Unreleased Project (CD)

Sway & King Tech's Wake Up Show Unreleased Project is a compilation of rare tracks by Noggin' Nodder, Chino XL, Steve Def, & The Bums and it has King Tech remixes of D'Angelo, Rakim, & The Pharcyde. The last track on the album is possibly the greatest radio promo of all-time, the 1994 Wake Up Show Anthem with Nas, Organized Konfusion, Ras Kass, Saafir, Shyheim, Dred Scott, & Lauryn Hill. Noggin' Nodder is now known as Motion Man.. the track Bounce is a real banger! That Ice Cube sample is crazy and so is the beat produced by Kut Masta Kurt! The rest is fully produced King Tech. I always thought this was a vinyl only release so I was really surprised when I found this cd! A great pickup!

Download

-- Thomas V

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

DJ Mister Cee “The Best Of Jay-Z”

Here it is, the final installment of the DJ Mister Cee “Best Of” mixtape series. Although Jigga-Man is not one of my favorite artists, I thought it was very important to present the entire library. My review wasn't going so well, but I think turntablelab says it best in the following two blurbs:

“Mister Cee goes in hard (Aquaman style!) for this comprehensive and really fascinating career-spanning Jigga collection. Starting way back with the Big Jaz collabs and freestyles, Cee forgoes chronological worries and moves in for the kill, dropping track after track of classic Jigga, from "Hawaiin Sophie"(!) to "Hard Knock Life." Even the most studious of Jay fans will find new shit on this one: rare early tracks, remixes and unreleased freestyles from Cee's vault all surface here. You know this shit is made by an insider when there are tracks with titles like "Freestyle – Live at Big Daddy Kane's Movie Release Party at The Ritz (1993)." Considering the age of some of these, this sound quality on this mix is pretty incredible. 36 tracks total. Recommended.”

01 Jay-Z-Freestyle Live At Big Daddy Kane's Album Release Party 1991

02 Big Jaz-Hawaiian Sophie feat. Jay-Z

03 Big Jaz-The Originators feat. Jay-Z

04 Jay-Z-Nigga What Nigga Who (Originator 99) feat. Big Jaz & Amil

05 Big Jaz-It's That Simple feat. Jay-Z

06 Rude Boys-My Kinda Girl (Remix) feat. Jay-Z

07 Glenn Jones-Good Thang feat. Jay-Z

08 Hi 5 Ski-She's Playing Hard To Get (Remix) feat. Jay-Z

09 Original Flavor-Can I Get Open feat. Jay-Z

10 Original Flavor-Many Styles feat. Jay-Z

11 Jay-Z-Freestyle Live At Big Daddy Kane's Movie Release Party 1993

12 Big Daddy Kane-Show Prove feat. Big Scoob, Sauce Money, Jay-Z, Shyheim & Ol' Dirty Bastard

13 Jay-Z-In My Life Time (Original)

14 Jay-Z-In My Lifetime (Remix)

15 Jay-Z-I Can't Get Wid Dat feat. Big Jaz & Sauce Money

16 Jay-Z-Dead Presidents Parts 1 & 2

17 Jay-Z-Ain't No Nigga feat. Foxy Brown

18 Jay-Z-Can't Knock The Hustle (Original & Remix) feat. Mary J. Blige & Melisa Morgan

19 Lil' Kim-Big Momma Thang feat. Jay-Z & Lil' Cease

20 Foxy Brown-I'll Be feat. Jay-Z

21 Jay-Z-Friend Or Foe '96

22 Jay-Z-Friend Or Foe '98

23 Jay-Z-Brooklyn's Finest feat. Biggie Smalls

24 Jay-Z-Love Is Love (Unreleased)

25 SWV-You're The One (Remix) feat. Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Mr. Cheeks, Trigga The Gambler & Smoothe The Hustler

26 Shai-I Dont Wanna Be Alone (Remix) feat. Jay-Z

27 Horace Brown-Things We Do For Love (Remix) feat. Jay-Z

28 The Braxtons-So Many Ways (Remix) feat. Jay-Z

29 Jay-Z-Foundation feat. Big Jaz & Sauce Money (Original & Remix)

30 Shaquille O'Neal-No Love Lost feat. Lord Tariq & Jay-Z

31 The Ranjahz-Kill 2 Live feat. Jay-Z

32 Tone Hooker-Crew Love 97 feat. O.C & Jay-Z

33 Memphis Bleek & Beanie Sigel-Crew Love 98 feat. Jay-Z

34 Jay-Z-You're Only A Customer

35 Jay-Z-Funkmaster Flex Freestyle

36 Biggie Smalls-I Love The Dough feat. Jay-Z & Angela Winbush

“Part 2 of Go-In Brother #1's Jigga retrospective focuses mainly on collaborations and the Roc-A-Fella era. Impossibly rare, hard-to-find and flat out unreleased tracks make their way into Mr. Cee's crate – check young Shawn Carter's "St. Ides Commercial," or "Roc-A-Fella Shit," which features the entire original Roc lineup (Jaz, Sauce, Bleek, Ranjahz, Diamonds, what!). Other highlights are "Young G's" with Biggie and Puff, and the unreleased solo joint "People's Court." Mister Cee has done the rap world a nice service by unleashing this shit. 25 tracks total.”

01 Jay-Z-Hard Knock Life

02 Jay-Z-Can I Get A...

03 Jay-Z-Money Cash Hoes feat. DMX

04 Jay-Z-It's Like That feat. Kid Capri

05 Jay-Z-Can I Live 99 feat. Memphis Bleek

06 Jay-Z-Paper Chase feat. Foxy Brown

07 Jay-Z-Peoples Court (Unreleased)

08 Jay-Z-Reservoir Dogs feat. The Lox Beanie Sigel & Sauce Money

09 Timbaland-Lobster & Scrimp feat. Jay-Z

10 Jay-Z-If I Should Die feat. The Ranjahz

11 Jay-Z-Ride Or Die

12 Jay-Z-Roc-A-Fella Shit feat. Team Roc (Unreleased)

13 Puff Daddy-Young Gs feat. Biggie Smalls & Jay-Z

14 Mase-Cheat On You feat. Lil' Cease & Jay-Z

15 Jay-Z-Pre Game Skit feat. Sauce Money (Unreleased)

16 Christion-Bring Back Your Love (Remix) feat. Jay-Z

17 Rell-Love For Free feat. Jay-Z

18 Jay-Z-St. Ides Commercial

19 Memphis Bleek-It's Alright feat. feat. Jay-Z

20 Jay-Z-Murdergram feat. Ja Rule & DMX

21 Jay-Z-Celebration feat. Team Roc

22 Jay-Z-What The Game Made Me feat. Memphis Bleek & Sauce Money

23 Jay-Z-Marcy To Hollywood feat. Memphis Bleek & Sauce Money

24 M.O.P.-4 Alarm Blaze feat. Jay-Z & Teflon

25 Jon B-Keep It Real feat. Coko & Jay-Z

Download Part One

Download Part Two

enjoy,

--dirt_dog

The Graveyards - Lonely Seed 1995-96

A few weeks ago, I picked up some vinyls from an Ebay seller. One of them was "The Graveyard - Lonely Seed". It seemed really random, but for a few bucks I didn't mind adding it to my collection. With no background information on it, I had no idea how it sounded like. When I received it, I immediately listened to it. It sounded Outkast-ish so I believed that it must have been something from the South. With a little internet research, I only found one thing related to the song... the video. I asked the youtube uploader if he had some information on it and guess what... He was the producer of the video. It gets interesting; check out the message he sent me:

"I was the producer of the video. In 95/96 Gza asked me to work with him as he tried his hand at Directing. His album "Beaneath the Surface" just came out and after this we made "Crash your Crew" video. The Graveyards was a group out of Miami whom wanted Gza and the Wu Tang to work with them. They had been reachin gout to him and this is when he called me in to facilitate the video which you see. Unfortunately this is a vhs version taped on to mini dv so it doesn;t do it justice. And finally Shyheim is in the video along with UGod and Capadonna in the poker scene."

"Technically I believe it was 1995. As Gza's producer, we worked on Gza "Crash your Crew" with ODB, SWV/Redman's "Lose my Cool", GZA/Muggs "Third World" and Killah Priest's "Cross my Heart"
I directed Teflon's "Get Mine", Sunz of Man "The Plan" and Wu Syndicate's "Weary Eyes"."

A1. The Graveyards - Lonely Seed (LP Version)
B1. The Graveyards - Lonely Seed (Instrumental)
B2. The Graveyards - Lonely Seed (Acapella)

Download

Follow Chase at his Myspace and Youtube Account.

-- Thomas V

Editor's Note: When it comes to researching promo-only or otherwise difficult to find material from slept-on artists, Thomas V is a consummate expert. Follow his blogging here.

Guilty Pleasures

A few months ago I shared with you my security blanket, this month I'm going to share with you some of my guilty pleasures.

Everyone has a few albums in their collection they've been questioned for liking or you might even question it yourself. Maybe it's an album that received lukewarm reviews or an album you flat out know is bad. Maybe it's an album most people have grown out but regardless you still appreciate the fuck out of it.

I have a few of these in my collection and I have no problem admitting they are some of my most listened to albums. The first one is what I like to think of as the ultimate summertime soundtrack. Ill and Al were far from dope lyricists but they had swagger and even though this album only has 12 songs, it centers around three standout tracks and the rest were either remixes or they switched some of the lyrics around to make them appear like different tracks.

I remember hearing "Where My Homiez?" (click for video) play constantly on Yo! MTV Raps and every time I'd have to stop what I was doing to watch it. When I said Creep Wit Me was a great summertime album I meant it.

Whether you took a ride down Fulton Street or A1A this was the ultimate backdrop. I distinctly remember taking those late-night trips to Denny's with the crew after a night of partying & bullshit. I remember the weekend excursions to the beaches rockin' the Nike visor cap (as seen worn by Al in the video) that became popular in the summer of '94 or how right before a game of b-ball we'd get amped to "Creep With Me" (title track) because the Snoop sample was the definition of perfection. I remember making the quintessential date night mixtape that had both "Summertime (It's All Good)" and "I'll Take Her" featuring Brian McKnight on there.

Yeah, Ill Al Scratch were the shit and Creep Wit Me is my guilty pleasure for sure.

[click image to download]

Next up is an album that most of us probably grew out of by 1996, but not me. What's crazy is that when the album dropped (1994) I was in 10th grade and I remember thinking how dope this little kid was but now after doing some research I found out the kid is actually older than me.

Shyheim aka The Rugged Child was born in '77, in Brooklyn. His affiliation had everything to do with his semi-success in rap as he was considered the youngest Wu-Tang Clan affiliate in the game. If you remember back in '94 the Wu phenomenon was absolutely crazy. Also having Ghostface Killah as your cousin couldn't hurt either.

Shy moved to Staten Island from Brooklyn living in the Stapleton Houses, where many Wu members lived. At the age of 14, Shy recorded his debut "On & On" for Virgin and months later the album, AKA The Rugged Child dropped. All but one track was produced by RNS. Many may not know about the RNS and that is the way he likes it. He's never been into the spotlight but that doesn't mean he didn't deserve it. RNS has worked with other Shaolin artists such as UMC's, GP Wu, King Just and RZA's Gravediggaz. It's also been mentioned serval times that RNS was the one who taught RZA the art of production.

AKA The Rugged Child is an album I thoroughly enjoy and even though I'm three decades old and cannot stand listening to kid rappers, I'll never turn my nose up to some Shyheim. He might have been young at the time but unlike many kid rappers Shy had some great tutelage and never came with those infantile raps.

So if you're new to the album I suggest you give it a shot. Some of my favorite cuts are On & On, One's 4 Da Money, Napsack, Here I Am and Headpiece. I've also added some b-sides and remixes for your listening pleasure. --Philaflava

WHAT ARE YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES??!!??!

Shaolin Style (Remix)

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