Soul Kid Klik

Soul Kid Klik, a hip-hop crew based in the Bronx, was formed in the early 90's. The members are G-Clef, Infamous, Blakspik, Goodfella Mike G, Storm the Ghetto Mutant, Malik Kahaar Ali, Skinslaya and DJ Spinbad. It all got started when original member G-Clef released an album with his group Ghetto Philharmonic (G-Clef, DJ Spinbad, B-Natural) in 1994. The album released by Tuff City was supposed to come out in 1993 but only came out late in 1994. After problems with Tuff City, Ghetto Philharmonic left the label. After G-Clef became managed by what was then known as GZA Entertainment, which was co-owned by GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan. G-Clef then started to promote his crew Soul Kid Klik. Their first 12" release was "Mortal Kombat" which came out in 1995. It became a minor hit and got spun on underground radio shows. They would release one more 12" single but after problems with GZA, Jay "Wax" Garfield, and even the group, they would eventually disband and abort their album. Only SKK member, Goodfella Mike G, was able to release a solo album in 1996 before the breakup. It's a dark, and raw album that was done by a "real" Sicilian mafioso. In 2002, G-Clef was able re-release all the SKK tracks(demos, unreleased, 12") into one CD. In my opinion, it's an underground classic! Just hardcore, raw, and real!

(1993-94) Ghetto Philharmonic - Hip Hop Be-Bop

Preview of Don't Bite the Concept:

(1994-96) Soul Kid Klik - Invisible Army

Preview of Mortal Kombat:

(1996) Goodfella Mike G - Time to Make Da Pasta

Preview of Strictly Dago:

Props to WhoosainTha49thAmbassador for Mike G

--Thomas V

In Search Of A Complete Prince Paul Discography

The regulars at the T.R.O.Y. Forum are not your average message board denizens, no sir. Far from leeching lurkers, our regulars are expert compilers, DJs, bloggers, producers, etc. in their own right and tend to display the drive to get things done efficiently and collaboratively. One big rap nerd Voltron perhaps, but the T.R.O.Y. Movement gets things done, duns.

In recent weeks the hilariously named Wordbooty announced a plan to compile the entirety of Prince Paul's discography, going so far as to include extremely remixes and other obscure production and scratching credits. Wordbooty posted quite a few of his finds to demonstrate that he had been making progress, starting with remixes. Unfortunately, the great Zshare Outage of '08 left many of the files inaccessible. The T.R.O.Y. Forum's first lady Ho1Ogramz came to the rescue, and uploaded all of the files that have been amassed thus far.

As you can see, Prince Paul has produced for a very diverse set of artists, which makes sense given his eclectic and even eccentric tastes as a sampling genius. 

Prince Paul Remixes Part 1 [CLICK TO DOWNLOAD]

3rd Bass "Gas Face" (Remix)

Alliance Ethnik "Respect" (Bag of Tricks Remix)

Alliance Ethnik "Respect" (Project Remix)

Alliance Ethnik "Simple & Funky" (Prince Paul Remix)

Beastie Boys "Root Down" (Prince Paul Balloon Remix)

Black, Rock, And Ron "You Can't Do Me None" (Prince Paul Remix)

Bootsy Collins "If 6 Was 9" (Prince Paul Instrumental)

Boo Yaa T.R.I.B.E. "Psyko Funk" (Remix)

Chill Rob G "Let Me Show You" (Prince Paul Remix)

Cookie Crew "Born This Way" (Prince Paul Dope Mix)

Cypress Hill "Latin Lingo" (Prince Paul Mix)

De La Soul "Me, Myself & I" (Oblapos Mode)

Prince Paul Remixes Part 2 [CLICK TO DOWNLOAD]

De La Soul "Keepin' The Faith" (Straight Pass)

De La Soul "Keepin' The Faith" (12" UK Mix)

De La Soul "Keepin' The Faith" (No Bass Mix)

De La Soul "Keepin' The Faith" (LP Version)

De La Soul "Ghetto Thang" (Ghetto Ximer Mix)

De La Soul "Buddy" (Native Tongues Decision Mix)

Prince Paul "Blue Flowers" (So Beautiful Remix)

Fine Young Cannibals "Good Thing" (Prince Paul Remix)

Fine Young Cannibals "I'm Not Satisfied" (New York Rap Version)

Gravediggaz "Mommy What's A Gravedigga?"

Imani Coppola "Legend Of A Cowgirl" (Prince Paul Mix)

Living Colour "Funny Vibe" (Funky Vibe Mix)

Scotty Hard "Who Said (What)" (Prince Paul Remix)

The Avalanches "Since I Left You" (Prince Paul Remix)

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion "Blues XXX Man" (Prince Paul Remix)

Kool And The Gang - Samples Volume 1

Kool & The Gang - Samples Volume 1
1. Kool & The Gang - Give It Up
2. Uptown - Dope On Plastic
3. Gangstarr - Take A Rest
4. Organized Konfusion - Intro
5. Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique
6. Greg Osby & 100X - 3-D Lifestyles
7. X-Clan - Shaft's Big Score
8. Cypress Hill - Phuncky Feel One
9. NWA - Real Niggaz
10. Kool & The Gang - Chocolate Buttermilk
11. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Straighten It Out
12. Eric B & Rakim - No Omega
13. Eric B & Rakim - Keep 'Em Eager To Listen
14. Chubb Rock - The Night Scene
15. Masta Ace - Simon Says
16. Special Ed - Ready 2 Attack
http://www.mediafire.com/?1hjiynn1jmz

Preview:

Give It Up


Chocolate Buttermilk


I have enough to make anywhere from 10 to 12 volumes, so stay tuned for the rest.

--Roy Johnson

Cold Chillin' on Christmas

First I would like to say Merry Christmas to all T.R.O.Y. Blog readers!

Now here's a rare posse cut by the Juice Crew that was released in 1988. As Cold Chillin' was distributed by Warner Bros. Records, they were given a spot on Warner Bros' Christmas Compilation "Winter Warnerland". The record featured Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante, MC Shan, & Fly Ty(yes, Fly Ty). Kane drops two verses while Shante, Shan, & Ty only rhymed once. Funny thing about this record is that everybody from "The Symphony" is missing except for Kane. It's still a great track though!

Christmas Gift


-- Thomas V

Jingle Jangle: Rock The Sleigh Bells

Nah this ain't a post about The Legion featuring Dres, duns. This is yet another homegrown T.R.O.Y. Forum treat, this time with a holiday twist, courtesy of Hullabaloo:

Sick of your 9-5's holiday carols? Try the Slayed Bells mix. I went through my library listening for that telltale jingle jangle to give you the perfect stocking stuffer and me a crazy migraine.

The sleigh bells have had a torrid history in hip hop production. Golden Age producers like Pete Rock, Buckwild, and Large Professor built careers off the sample, imbuing their beats with a soulful, whimsical, swinging groove, that often enticed some of the best performances out of an emcee's career. Sleigh bells can be the focal point of your track (Eric B and Rakim - Microphone Fiend), relied on as a hi-hat stand-in (Big L - 8 iz Enuff), or lurk subtly deep within the mix (Lord Finesse - Flip da Style).

Picking tracks for Slayed Bells has changed the way I hear my music. I am now conscious of the sleigh bell presence on songs I had heard hundreds of times before. I now notice how Large Professor uses three different samples on Nas' Halftime. I now consider it a travesty when producers opt for a tambourine, xylophone, slide whistle, or salt shaker instead. I am now acutely aware of songs that SHOULD have had some bells in the background. Close your eyes and imagine the jingling on Big Daddy Kane's Aint No Half-Stepping, Large Pro's Ijuswannachill, or Jeru's Me or the Papes. Yes, infinitely better. Yet the sleigh bell seems to be losing favor with today's top beatmakers. While famed producer Bruce Dickinson recognized the need for more cowbell back in 1976, today our collective eardrums just can't get enough of Crank That's steel pan loop that spent seven weeks at number one. Would we still be watching the young maestro supermaning hoes if he'd thrown down some sleigh bells under his hi-hats? You're damn right.

This mix focuses on classic material to illustrate how sleigh bells have been championed by some of our all time favorites. As the cabbie from the original Die Hard says to a crusty John McClane; "This IS Christmas Music!"

[Click To Download] Re-upped 12/19/09

1. Pete Rock and CL Smooth - One in a Million
2. AZ - Your World Don't Stop (Buckwild remix)
3. Real Live - The Gimmicks
4. Nas - Halftime
5. Common - Watermelon
6. Alkaholiks - Daaam (Buckwild remix)
7. OC - Word....Life
8. Snoop - Tha Shiznit
9. Bahamadia - Rugged Ruff
10. Big L - Street Struck
11. Outkast - Player's Ball
12. Main Source - Peace is Not the Word to Play
13. Lord Finesse - Flip da Style
14. Organized Konfusion - Invetro
15. INI - Props
16. Artifacts - C'mon wit da git Down
17. Ras Kass - Soul on Ice

Merry Christmas to our readers from Amsterdam to Australia and everywhere in between!

-- Thun

Roxanne Shante - R.O.X.A.N.N.E. (1984-1989)

She's got one of the most memorable voices in the whole genre, hails from Queensbridge, and holds a Ph.D. in Psychology. If you need a refresher on Ms. Shante, OldSchoolHipHop.com has this to say:

Born Lolita Shante Gooden, Roxanne Shante was part of a phenomenon that took place in 1984. UTFO's song "Roxanne Roxanne" was a huge hit that year about their attempts to seduce a woman named Roxanne. One night Shante overheard WHBI's Tyrone Williams, Mister Magic, and Marley Marl discussing the fact that UTFO has skipped out on promised appearance. Shante offered to record a dis record. Her skills seemed up to par despite only being around 14-15 years old. Marley produced and she rapped the song, "Roxanne's Revenge" and it made them both famous. In fact, Shante couldn't go to school because so many people would stand outside of her classroom. Following her success there were over one hundred more "Roxanne" answer records. She began to tour constantly, freestyling her way through all takers. He war with UTFO continued as she would do anything to sabotage their shows and make them look bad. She had a few other hits (written by Big Daddy Kane) like "Have a Nice Day" and also "Go on Girl" from the movie Colors. She also did a duet with Biz Markie in 1986 called "Def Fresh Crew". She also worked with Rick James on a "Loosey's Rap." Other tracks of note were "Payback" and "Freestyle" in 1987. 1990 saw the release of "Big Mama" which took on every other female rapper in the game.

DJ Dee-Ville is not a new name to readers of this blog. He runs his own blog called Ain't It Good To You and has made a name for himself making compilations of obscure or underappreciated songs from artists such as Positive K and The Audio Two. His latest compilation centers on the subject of this post and comes highly recommended. Hearing Roxanne rip Frukwan (of Gravediggaz fame) at the New Music Seminar is priceless. Download this fan-made compilation and be sure to support whatever DJ Dee-Ville's doing over at his spot.

R.O.X.A.N.N.E. [Click To Download]

Black Rob - White Label EP

Forum regular Step One was kind enough to bless us with mp3s of this seemingly rare Black Rob EP. It should be noted that these songs are not merely freestyles over classic beats, but skilled remakes of the original. Here's what Step One has to say:

This a 4 track white label BR dropped before his first album.

Its got him spitting over Lookin At The Front Door, Childrens Story and Who Got The Props, plus a jackin for beats type thing over some Juice Crew beats and Punks Jump Up....

I've labelled that track 'The Heist' but I have a feeling it was called something else on the vinyl so if anyone can put me up on that go ahead.

There you have it. If anyone has more information, let us know the deal. Enjoy.

[Click To Download]