Ganjah K - Unreleased Material

Ganjah K's name is one that rarely comes up when discussions are held of the mighty Project Blowed, an unfortunate oversight when K's musical pedigree is more than enough to hold him in the same lofty regard as the rest of the seminal Left Coast collective. Simply put, the man makes damn good rap music. Though legendary in the Los Angeles underground circles, his own legacy is overshadowed by his more prolific contemporaries including Freestyle Fellowship, Abstract Tribe Unique, and the Curbserver/Afterlife camp. This is more than likely due to the fact that K could never seem to get an officially-released full-length record. Let's face it, in an industry where putting out six mixtapes worth of material in as many months is often not enough to get you noticed, a lack of recorded material is a serious hindrance.

At least two Ganjah K albums were produced, despite constant murmurs of their non-existence amongst Blowed heads and tape traders. The first, Danksta Life, seems to be a cassette-only underground release and features Snoop Dogg on one of the choruses ("Ups & Downs")...in-studio, no samples! Consensus on a release date seems to fall between 1992 and 1994, although I would guess closer to late 1992 or early 1993 given the Snoop appearance. K's sophomore album and major label debut, Harvest For The World, was supposed to be released in 1995 on Pallas Records, and was shelved when the label folded. I'm not sure if the album was ever actually completed as only eight songs seem to exist in tangible form.

After Pallas folded, K languished in the underground, dropping guest appearances here and there and even appearing on the soundtrack to the Martin Lawrence flick "A Thin Line Between Love & Hate." After lacing Fat Jack the Elephant with a track for his 1999 double-disc opus Cater To The DJ, Ganjah K seemingly disappeared into a haze of his own chronic smoke. According to this website, he was supposed to drop an album entitled Puff Daddy in the summer of 2002, but nothing ever materialized. Really a shame, as I always felt that K was a superbly talented cat.

Now, on to the music itself.

Ganjah K was never as stylistically monstrous as his Curbserver compatriots, but as he proved on the intermittent "Heavyweights" cuts that he could easily hold his own in a cipher. Song concepts are often limited to the man's namesake; smoking and dealing bud are the prevailing themes, although K never limits himself strictly that. The beats, which I would assume are mostly self-produced, hit you like the breeze coming off of the Pacific Ocean. Boom-bap to the core but no rough-and-rugged Timb boot stomp here; you can feel both the East and West Coast influences equally. Definitely the type of rap you'll want to crack a brew and lounge to. In my mind, there are really no weak tracks on either of these albums so all I can say is give 'em a listen and form your own opinions.

Here are a couple of links to K's two albums. Be forewarned, as the sound quality on Harvest For The World is extremely muddled as a result of multi-generation dubbing. I won't lie, they literally sound like someone ran the DATs through a meat grinder. But if you can get beyond the awful EQ levels, you're in for some dope music. One demo track, "Scene Of The Green," is tacked onto Harvest as well.


Enjoy.

Danksta Life (1992?-1994?, self-released)

1. Poverty Is A Crime
2. Paper Chase
3. Ya Too Strong
4. Danksta Life
5. When Ya Homie Dies
6. Everybody Wants To Be A G
7. Bud Berries
8. Smoke Buds & Down Brew
9. Medicine Man
10. Dis Type Of Shit
11. Ups & Downs (featuring Snoop Dogg)
12. Love Got My Mind Trippin’

Mediafire

Harvest For The World (1995, Pallas Records)

1. It Don’t Stop
2. Pound Of Herb
3. Can You Feel The High?
4. You’re All I Need
5. Untitled
6. Bud Berries
7. Untitled
8. Untitled
9. Scene Of The Green (Demo)

Mediafire

Props to TROY forum members basta & bignormy for the original uploads.

-Echo Leader

Enta Da Stage Vs. Midnight Marauders

Recently at the forum, Jaz (of CDRS fame) devised a poll that asks respondents to choose between two of 1993's landmark albums, Black Moon's Enta Da Stage and A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders. I was initially fearful that the discussion would devolve into a battle of ad-hominem attacks and unsubstantiated claims, with one camp singing the praises of dark griminess and the other championing meander positivity. Both albums are lauded by cultish fan followings and bolstered by the nearly universal acclaim of established critics.

Marauders is the more widely known, and thus more celebrated album. It is also the more polished production effort and few would disagree that it sounds sophisticated and modern to this day. Enta Da Stage is rougher and almost comically dark in tone. This is not to say that Tribe doesn't flirt with characteristic early '90s dark griminess -- Midnight is pretty much the sonic and lyrical blueprint for much of Mobb Deep's early career, as I argue here. But let's be real - Enta Da Stage's lyrics are full of brooding menace, while Tribe's rhymes run the gamut from optimistic to mystic to downright silly.

There's little doubt in my mind that both groups were fans of each other's work. It is well known that Q-Tip went beat digging with Evil Dee and Mr. Walt during this time. Phife identifies Black Moon as one of his favorite rap crews in the Marauders liner notes. Enta Da Stage sounds very much like The Low End Theory's more thugged out kid brother. Even Buckshot's typically melodic and laid back styles seem to be influenced by the Q-Tip's talky flow; his more aggressive performances (and those of Five Foot Accelerator) remind one at times of Phife's simplistic but effective technique. Both albums are filled with jazz samples that are stripped down to their most essential groove, in some cases beyond recognition.

Can one of these albums be said to be inherently superior to the other? It's a tough call and the thread in question has proven to be somewhat contentious. What's your opinion? Let us know in the comments section here or over at the forums.

For the record, I listen to Marauders more these days, but who can front on "Slave" or "Niguz Talk Shit"?

-- Thun

Tony Touch “The Sunz Of Man Mixtape” (1998)

Back in the day, I was a crazy Wu-Tang collector. That meant picking up anything and everything I could get my hands on, including any Wu-Fam releases. Here is the promo mixtape sampler for Sunz Of Man's first album “The Last Shall Be First” mixed by none other than Tony Touch. To me, this is exactly how you promote your upcoming album (in 1998 at least): get a very well known DJ, put on some album tracks, add some exclusives, throw in some freestyles and hand out this promo cassette to everyone you can.

Note: Side 2 is exactly the same as Side 1, so I didn't bother uploading it. But I did include a full scan of the sleeve and both sides of the cassette.

01. Inmates To The Fire

02. We Can't Be Touched (featuring Makeeba)

03. Israeli News

04. The Saga (featuring IAM)

05. No Love Without Hate

06. 50 MC's Part 2 (Freestyle)

07. Tribulations

08. I Can See You

09. 50 MC's Part 1 (Freestyle)

DOWNLOAD

enjoy,

--dirt_dog

J-Live - Non-Album Tracks (1995-2002)

J-Live was one of the absolute best MCs in the business back in the late 90s/early 00s. Not only did he rip shit in the studio and on tour, but he also blessed many radio show and mixtape DJs with outstanding pre-written, improvisational freestyles.

I traded for two of his concerts back in 2003 or thereabouts; Volume 3 contains his Chicago 'o1 performance (15 minutes), and volume 4 is a complete soundboard from a '02 North Carolina concert. Make sure to check the audio samples.

I know that I'm missing at least a few freestyles from between the years of 1995 and 2002, so if you have anything to add, please hit us up in the comments section. For instance, there is an ill freestyle on a wax-only release titled Classic Freestyles Volume 1. I found an audio sample here.

J-Live - Non-Album Tracks Volume 1
1. Longevity
2. Braggin' Writes
3. School's In (Original Version)
4. Can I Get It?
5. Hush The Crowd
6. Longevity (Remix)
7. Braggin' Writes (Remix)
8. Trackrunners w/ Asheru & Grap Luva
9. Shiesty (Original Version)
10. Shyste (Wide Angles Version)
11. End Of Story w/ Peshay
12. The Truth
13. Wee Hours w/ The Arsonists
14. Interaction w/ Walkin' Large
http://www.mediafire.com/?zgj2guvjkvg

J-Live - Non-Album Tracks Volume 2
1. Seven w/ Various Artists
2. Dynomite w/ Lone Catalysts
3. Great Live Caper w/ J. Rawls
4. Great Live Caper Pt. 2 w/ J. Rawls
5. Won't Stop Remix w/ Lone Catalysts
6. What Would You Do w/ Various Artists
7. Dummy w/ Unsung Heroes & L-Fudge
8. A Tree Never Grown w/ Various Artists
9. Realise w/ L-Fudge
10. Observe The Sound w/ Various Artists
11. Rules Of Engagement w/Esoteric & Count Bass D
12. Final Four w/ Various Artists
13. Sub Level w/ Rob Swift
14. Red Light Green Light w/ Ambivalence
15. Ships Pass
16. The Day I Fell Off
http://www.mediafire.com/?dndtze2nzzn

J-Live - Non-Album Tracks Volume 3
1. KZSU Freestyle
2. DJ B-Melo Freestyle
3. DJ Bless Freestyle
4. Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle
5. CM Famalam Freestyle
6. Eddie Ill & DL Freestyle w/ Asheru & Last Emperor
7. Eddie Ill & DL Freestyle w/ Wizdom Life & AL
8. Eddie Ill & DL Freestyle w/ Various Artists
9. Romper Room Freestyle #1 w/ Vakill & Prime
10. Romper Room Freestyle #2 w/ Vakill & Prime
11. Live In Chicago '01 (15 Minutes)
12. Interview w/ Ambivalence
http://www.mediafire.com/?zden25kmtnf

J-Live - Non-Album Tracks Volume 4 (N.C. SDBD)
1. Intro
2. Peace Y'all
3. A Charmed Life/The Lyricist
4. All In Together Now
5. Don't Play
6. Hush The Crowd
7. Longevity
8. Satisfied
9. DJ DP-One Spotlight
10. Braggin' Writes
11. Freestyle
12. Them That's Not
13. Like This Anna
14. Mcee
15. Beatbox Outro
http://www.mediafire.com/?bmgeo5nhyy5

Preview:

School's In (Original Version)


Braggin' Writes (Remix)


Trackrunners w/ Asheru & Grap Luva


Shiesty (Original Version)


Shyste (Wide Angles Version)


End Of Story w/ Peshay


KZSU Freestyle


DJ B-Melo Freestyle


DJ Bless Freestyle


Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle


CM Famalam Freestyle


Eddie Ill & DL Freestyle w/ Asheru & Last Emperor


A Charmed Life/The Lyricist (North Carolina '02)


Don't Play (North Carolina '02)


Them That's Not (North Carolina '02)


Props to dirt dog for the awesome cover.

--Roy Johnson

Cell Block Z (Ghostface Killah) Contest

Click here to read an excerpt of the book

Contest: Cell Block Z (Ghostface Killah) Contest

Objective: Create your own Ghostface Killah mix

Rules:
- You can only use material pre 2001
- You can use GFK guest appearances
- You can only include 10 tracks
- You can create your own track (remix or verse highlights) but the material must be pre 2001
- Only MP3s will be accepted
- Only bitrates of 160 or higher will be accepted
- Providing cover art is option
- You must POST your mix, along with track list and download link on our forum here

The 4 best mixes will be determined by the T.R.O.Y. & Steady Bloggin' blog squad.
The public will determine the last place winner by voting on T.R.O.Y..

5 winners total.

*Only residents of the US and Canada are eligible to win; no PO boxes. This is by request of the publisher.

By Ghostface Killah, Marlon Chapman, and Shauna Garr, Illustrated by Chris Walker

To his fans, Cole Dennis is a heavyweight contender with a devastating right hook. To a city being held hostage to chaos and terror, Dennis has a grit and charisma that make him the shining hope for justice--until he is arrested for a brutal murder. Framed for a crime he did not commit, he finds himself captive in a foreboding high-tech superprison whose masters secretly conspire to turn inmates into tomorrow's most terrifying bioweapons--with Cole Dennis as the intended prize specimen. But Dennis is nobody's lab rat. Reborn as a towering engine of destruction, Dennis will prepare for the fight of his life. He will rename himself Ghostface Killah. And his cry of righeous rage will echo beyond the cold steel walls of Cell Block Z.

For more information:

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780446699747.htm

To order:

http://www.amazon.com/Cell-Block-Z-Ghostface-Killah/dp/0446699748

Latin Groove

By now you've known us long enough to know our tastes run much wider than just hip hop. Todays post is one such change of pace. What I have here today is a head-noddin' collection of latin funk from the late 60's to 2003. No, this ain't your fathers favorite Carlos Montoya lp. Like jazz and hip hop, funk is informed by many styles. Cultural influences in funk music are numerous and distinct. The latin take is no different. I love all sorts of latin music, from peruvian flutes, to classic flamenco guitar to the earth shaking james of Carlos Santana. If you're a sucker for that south-of-the-border flavor then check this out. My favorite tracks are probably numbers 3,11 and 14.

Here's a link and the tracklist --

Download

01 (5:00) Ry Cooder And Manuel Galban - Drume Negrita
02 (3:29) Marc Ribot - Chingatanero No Se
03 (4:28) Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers - Heat!
04 (3:01) Willie Bobo - Fried Neck Bones And Some Home Fries
05 (3:58) Tommy Guerrero - Color Of Life
06 (3:53) David Byrne - Beleza Tropical
07 (3:28) Banda Black Rio - Rio De Fevereiro
08 (3:35) Airto - Alue
09 (3:30) Ocho - Undress My Mind
10 (5:57) Sergio Mendes And Brasil '77 - Superstition
11 (5:21) Ricardo Marrero - Babalonia
12 (8:40) Sambo Soul - Mambo #5
13 (3:23) Soul Bossa Trio - Sally
14 (6:33) The Herbaliser - Latin Horns

This last tune is something I cut from a live show The Herbaliser did in New York City in 2000 I think. If anyone out there knows the lp they were playing I'd really like to know! Enjoy.

--Schenectadyfan

Ill Advised - Collected Songs ('95-00)

A few years back one of the original T.R.O.Y. forum mods Mustafa Goodprose aka MGP posted a very nice obscure Illadelph drop. Forum member Echo Leader was kind enough to bring this to my attention and I thought it was definitely worthy of a re-run. Below is the original post that went with the mix. Enjoy! --Philaflava

One of the most slept-on groups ever to do it.

My favorite group of the Philadelphia underground is Ill Advised. Comprised of rappers Baby Blak, Mr. Lish, and occasionally Rasheed (aka the Rebel Rahsheed aka Maylay Sparks) the crew put out a number of 12s in the mid-to-late 1990s on Quake City and later Eastern Conference Records.

Basically the story is this: Quake City is a label out of Philly. Ill Advised recorded two albums for them that were only released in Japan under the "Blue Dolphin" imprint. In the States Quake City Records a released number of 12's from the Ill Advised crew, the first being obscure "Against the Grain/Kwestions/Through the Eye," the second being the college radio hit "N.A.M.E.S./Encore," and the last two the 1986/Internal Affairs joint and another pressing with a remix featuring The Roots. Ill Advised were also featured heavily on the first or second Eastern Conference Records 12 with the songs "Captivating Cultivating," "All In Together Now" which featured Pauly Yams, and "Know A Little Nigga." Baby Blak is also featured on the original version of "Open Mic Night."

The crew fell off the map in 1999 when Mr. Lish went on a "judicial vacation" somewhere "up north." There were a lot of problems with Quake City Records, I believe that they went under in 2000 the the two albums they released in Japan (Wasabi and Can U Smell Me) never made it to stores in America. The problems for the crew only magnified with Eastern Conference Records. Milo Berger, aka DJ Might Mi aka DJ Mighty Bi, never paid Ill Advised a dime for anything. Word on the street (and straight from Baby Blak's mouth in an interview with Elemtree) was that they took Mi by force to an ATM machine and um, uh, well... "intimidated" him into draining his account for them on the spot. Also, Ill Advised affiliate Rahsheed is said to have thrown a stack of Eastern Conference 12's into the Delaware River in the video for his track (and first release on Quake City Records for all you vinyl geeks out there) "Industry Party Bumrusha." I've never seen this myself, just read about it one the internet. If someone can hook that video up for me though that'd be dope.

Ill Advised has gotten their shit together somewhat as of late. Baby Blak put out a nice album in 2003 called Blak Is Back. Blak has also put out a lot of 12s with DJ Revolution. He's also done a lot of work with hip hop legend DJ Jazzy Jeff. Lish is supposedly out of jail and the duo are currently preparing their American debut on BBE records.

For all of you vinyl collectors out there I want to let you know that there are some seriously rare Ill Advised joint floating around that have never made it to the internet. The first two are the crew's Japan-only releases Wasabi and Can U Smell Me?. The third is a version of 1.9.8.6. (I think, not sure which song it is from their catalog, but it's from one of their 12's) with Mr Eon on it and a different beat. It was played a few times on 89.1 and 89.9 in NYC. I'm not sure if it's test-pressing only or just an isolated acetate. If anyone remembers the "Neuman" skit on High and Mighty's debut album Home Field Advantage that's what that whole thing was about; Ill Advised thinking Eon was wack and Milo not paying them what they were owed so they pulled Eon's vocals off of all their new songs. The skit kinda backfired on High and Mighty in my opinion because everyone from Cage to Tame One to Necro has aired out Mighty Mi for his sloppy business dealings. Also a word of warning for the vinyl collectors (and maybe Ill Advised if they are reading this), there are two versions of the Through the Eye/Kwestions/Against the Grain 12' floatring around out there. I am not sure if one is a bootleg but I've seen pictures of a version with a faded rainbow-colored label being sold in Japan. I have a different version with an off-white-colored label. I am not too sure which one is the original or if the crew knows about the second pressing because when labels are running low on money, and this is especially true of smaller indie labels, they normally start bootlegging shit in Japan. Wild Pitch did it. Ask that Oasis-looking faggot Cage about Bobbito pressing up some of his shit (The Muppet Show) and releasing it in Japan behind his back. It happens all the time so I'm not sure of one of the pressings is legit.

And now the good part, the music. I've ripped a number of Ill Advised tracks from the original vinyl and uploaded them here for all of you. A few people have the N.A.M.E.S 12', it hardly comes up for sale, and fewer people even know about the 12' they released before that. Most rap fans missed the great shit they did on EC because it was never released on CD (and it's the best material EC ever put out in my opinion). A lot of people know about the shit they did with the Roots.

Here's the tracklisting, and remember that the quality of the actual vinyl for a lot of these records is dodgy and unmastered. Don't expect CD-quality sound, just good music.

Ill Advised - Collected Songs ('95-00)

1.9.8.6. Remix feat. The Roots
Against The Grain
All In Together Now
Captivating Cultivating
Encore
Internal Affairs
Know A Little Nigga
Kwestions
Names
Push
Renaissance
Through the Eye

Download Link
Download Link #2

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Philaflava Interview w/Maylay Sparks