Gangsta rap rules MY first 10 years of listening pleasure. I really didn't listen to much else if it wasn't hardcore. Just over the past few years, with the boom in classic hip-hop blogs, have I had the chance to go back and catch up on all the albums I turned my nose up to, back in the day.
MC Eiht, Ice Cube, N.W.A, Spice 1 were some of my favorites. While a lot of people look at this genre as ignorant or boring, I always found their tales exciting. Stories of cooking up some crack, cappin fools and smackin up that dirty ho, are some far out shit that was on the complete opposite side of the spectrum from white suburbia where i grew up as I could get. It fascinated me, sucked me in, making me want more. The lyrics were the fairy tales that i wanted to hear about.
I have to admit that I thought South Central Cartel were just trying to cash in on the fame of N.W.A, CMW and DJ Quik coming out of the LA gangsta boom. But by the time the crew got to 'In Gatz We Trust' and when Havoc & Prod did a few solo albums, I was really feelin it. They honed their skills weren't just some scrub gangster-wannabe-rappers.
Murder Squad meshed together a ton of South Central cats. Ice-T, MC Eiht, Spice 1 and even Treach from the east side, make guest appearances here. I know, I know a lot of you crack on the sing song hooks these guys lay out, but I like L.V.'s voice, who you should know from Coolio's "Gangtas Paraise" mega-hit.
P.S. - dont forget that Coolio was a half-legit gangsta rapper from the Maad Circle crew of W.C.'s, also from Compton.
Here is S.C.C. presents Murder Squad Nationwide:
SH'KILLA
1996 - Priority Records
1. Got 'Em Twisted
2. 1-800 Got Yo M'n
3. East Bay Gangstrez
4. Female Rydaz
5. My Name Is Nine (Yeh, Da Gun)
6. Now U Wanna Come Back (Reunited We're Not)
7. Whatever It Takes
8. She's Bad
9. All Aboard
10. Ghetto Tears
11. Go Down On It
12. Murder Squad 4 Hire
13. Creep Wit My Chrome - (CD only)
-Brian
1/31/2007
West Coast Unappreciated Six
Beer and Wings Await.....
I'm running late for .30cent wings and happy hour beers at the University Inn...so this is quick as possible.
Del The Funky Homosapian - The Lost EP (Possibly from HipHopSite.com back in the day)
Sorry for taking so long to get that shit up. I told you all I'm absent minded and flaky....
I caught someone wanting a request for WYDU Vol 3 on a post from waaaay back...there was still an active link, but it was hidden in some comments or some shit..anyway here it is
WYDU Classics Vol 3
Search for the track listing...you are big boys and girls.....
*****LINKS*****
I also need to clean up the links and add new ones, hopefully tomorrow morning. If I have said in the past that I would put your link up and still haven't, let me know. Also if there is anything out there I don't have in the links that you think should be....let me know. Those links are also my own personal bootmarks, meaning I check them myself on my rounds, so if they aren't up there, it means I'm missing them myself...and I don't want to miss anything good.
Alright, I'm out..mmmmmmm I can taste the cold Coors Light and wing sauce on my lips already.......
Hopefully a post with more substance tomorrow
PEACE Trav
1/30/2007
Westcoast Unappreciated Five
Provocative, insightful, stimulating are a few words that come to mind to describe the Coup. In this world of diluted watered down boring ass hip hop, Boots and Pam da Funkstress have never lost focus. They started the group with E-Roc as a voice for the anti-establishment. They can really open the listeners eyes all while teaching a lesson. Proving a point that ignorance truly is the #1 reason for discrimination in society. Don't get me wrong, Boots is spitting on a different, if not higher level then most. A devout communist, this one-of-a-kind sounding MC spits some tales that will open your eyes wide. 
At the heart of it all, most of it you can agree with, when you sit back and think about it. Thinking about it, being the one aspect that a lot of todays MC's don't make you do. You may remember that the Coup released their 2001 album Party Music very near to September 11th with a eerie cover:
The Coup's first album Steal This Album, is a true underground classic. I upped their third album 'Steal This Album', prob their most slept on album. Check it out:
Steal this Album
i have been asked to reup some 304 posse cuts. I don't remember what I upload a while back and I am too lazy to look but i put 10 files in one upload:
1. 2nd II None - Straglaz (OG Version)
2. DJ Quik - Fuck the Police
3. DJ Quik - If U Want It (Remix)
4. DJ Quik - Let U Havit (OG Version)
5. DJ Quik - Quik Is the Name (Remix)
6. DJ Quik - Summer Breeze (Remix)
7. DJ Quik - Total Auto
8. DJ Quik - Wake Up Show Nov 13, 2003
9. Hi-C - Let Me Know (Radio Freestyle)
10. Young Buck (feat. Hi-C) - Now Holla
304 POSSE
-Brian
1/29/2007
Used CD Shopping Trip 1-25-07
Thur, 1-25-07 (my computer desk)
Twist & Shout & Second Spin
Last Thursday was pay day. I had some overtime on it, plus two full weeks after being short the last couple of checks because of the holidays and the such. Needless to say, I haven't had much money to spend on myself lately. I paid a bunch of bills then decided it was time to hit up some of the used music stores and see what I can track down in the used bins. No better way to waste a bright & sunny Thursday afternoon than checking out some CD stores.
Twist & Shout: Colofax Ave, Denver Colorado ($29.73)
Twist & Shout is one of the two main wax/inpendent music stores in Denver. You have Wax Trax and you have Twist & Shout. Each have their own pro's and con's. Wax Trax seems to have the harder to find stuff as far as wax goes, but their CD selection isn't up to par with Twist & Shout. Twist & Shout moved locations recently and I had not been there since the move. The new store is pretty nice. Much more room than the old location. They also had their own special "Hip Hop & Underground Room", with a DJ spinning records (although I'm thinking dude was more of Drum & Bass/Trance dude with purple hair) and everything in one area. At first I thought it was kind of cool, then I kind of took offense to it, since it seem like it was easier to keep an eye on us "hoodlum" hip hop purchasers. Whatever.
I went through the wax, just to see if I found anything extremely rare. I didn't see anything I couldn't live without. T&S has always been very good about carrying all the latest hip hop releases on CD, best I've seen in town. They include stuff that is supposbly only avaliable on the sites like hiphopsite.com, such as the J-Zone "Experianced" project that he uses Jimi Hendrix samples that I thought was only avaliable through hiphopsite.com. It was also the only place I've seen Dooley-O's "I Gotcha" release from last year, that I snapped up. It's more expensive in price, both their new and used CD's, which is common with the independent stores. I did go ahead an picked up a new copy of Exile's "Dirty Science", which was the only thing in my top 10 favorite albums of 2006 that I didn't have a hard copy for. But you're not here for that, on to the pickups...
Hi-C - Skanless $6.99
http://www.zshare.net/download/hi-c-rar.html
1. [Intro-Scratch]
2. Too Greasy 
3. Leave My Curl Alone
4. Punk S**T
5. Funky Rap Sanga
6. Request Line
7. Sitting in the Park
8. Compton Hoochies
9. Jack Move
10. Bulls**T
11. 2 Ada Time
12. Yo Dick
13. Froggy Style
14. 2 Drunk Ta F**K
15. Ding-A-Ling
16. I'm Not Your Puppet
17. 2 Skanless
18. Let Me Know [*] - DJ Quick, Hi-C, , Tonya A
19. Do You Wanna See [*] - DJ Quick, Hi-C, , Tonya A
20. Do It [*] - DJ Quick, Hi-C, , Tonya A
This got the re-release treatment back in '04, which is cool I guess. Nothing much different, execept for three lack luster tracks with DJ Quik at the end that do NOTHING to add to the total package. Personally this has always been a favorite of mine. It was dropped my senior year in high school and it appeals to the high school kid in it's humor. It got much play at any party we had that year. Tracks like "Punk Shit", "2 Ada Time", "2 Skanless" and the WYDU Classic "2 Drunk Ta F**k" (don't lie, it's happened to all of us) were all favorites of us hormone charged, cheap beer guzzling, high school seniors. The $6.99 I had to fork out was a little more than I wanted to pay for it. I guess since it appears to be from '04, they justify charging more for it. I wanted it though, so I paid for it.
Blackmale - Let It Swing $4.99
I remember copping this tape when I was in High School as well. It dropped in '89 and I thought was always slept on as fuck. It dropped on Ruffhouse before Ruffhouse got huge. The group consisted of a duo from Philly, if I remember right. I'm not saying it's a slept on classic, but if you enjoy music from this time period, you should be able to enjoy this album as well. Looking on Amazon, it's going for a cheap .25 cents, but I'd rather pay the $4.99 for it and experiance the enjoyment I felt when I came across it. It's posted up on Bust The Facts if anyone wants to check it out.
45 King - The 900 Number EP $6.99 http://sharebee.com/ed8b82b4
1. 900 Number [Original Mix] 
2. 900 Number [45 King Remix]
3. 900 Number [Lakim Shabazz Acappella Vocal]
4. 900 Number [Ced Gee Remix 1]
5. 900 Number [Ced Gee Remix 2]
6. 900 Number [Ced Gee Remix 3]
7. 900 Number [YZ Acappella Vocal]
I thought for sure when I ran into this I was on to something big. Well after doing a little research, this too, has recentely been rereleased. But then I got to looking at what I have, and the copyright is 1991 (usually rereleases contain both the first copyright and the second copyright) then looking at the bottom of the re-release it says "From Eminem's Producers", meaning the "Stan" track he did. Mine has "Acapella versions by Lakim Shabazz & YZ", so I'm thinking mine is original. Not that I'm that big of a record geek, but it's still kind of cool. Again, I didn't really want to spend $6.99 for an EP, but I've been on a 45 King quest the past few months, so I grabbed it.
O.G.C. - Da Storm ($5.99)
Yes, even I have my holes in my collection. When most of the BCC stuff came out, a friend of mine and I would take turns buying stuff, while the other person would dub it. He always insisted that he buy the BCC, so besides the Black Moon albums, I didn't own anything else. I'm trying to correct that, so I'll snap up any of those original BCC releases.
After dropping almost forty bucks at Twist & Shout, I wanted to hit up a cheap place, so it was off to Second Spin on Colorado BLVD
Second Spin: Colorado BLVD, Denver Colorado ($7.02)
I had just been there on New Years Day, but they usually have some type of sale going on. I was in luck, they still had the buy three get one free and the "Everything under $3.99 is 50% off" sale. It was a little soon after my first visit, but there was some new stuff and some stuff that the price had been brought down on. I bought a couple games as well (San Andreas GTA) and the clerk was nice enough to count it as a fourth, giving me one for free and giving me half price on one of the three, which he wasn't supposed to do.
DJ Hurricane - The Hurra (free)
http://sharebee.com/4465d7fe 
1. Now You Do
2. Elbow Room
3. Four Fly Guys
4. Can We All Get Along
5. Feel The Blast
6. Pass Me The Gun
7. The Hurra
8. Where's My Niggas At
9. What's Really Going On
10. Comin' Off
11. Get Blind
12. Pat You Foot
13. Stick' Em Up
While he may be best recognized as the Beasite Boys DJ, Hurricane is a hip hop vetern, appearing with The Afro's and also Davey D. Hurricane dropped this LP back in on the Beasties label. It's decent, nothing ground breaking, but it's strong in the "Hollis Crew" flavor. For free, I'll take it, although I thought it was going to be a $1.50, which still would have been alright.
Rob Base - The Incredible Base ($1.50)
http://sharebee.com/c0b4026f 
This is another one of those "it's so bad, but I like it" albums. This was Rob Base's follow up to his popular debut "It Takes Two". It's another album that I played the crap out of in high school, probably because I knew no better. I bought it out of memories, but after listening to it again, it sure didn't age very well.
1/27/2007
WYDU Classics
(BLOGGER Pictures isn't working, so no quirky pictures, which kind of pisses me off, but I'm too tired to give a fuck)
It also means you also get more drunk Trav posts, kind of like this one. Actually, I went to the Colorado Avalanche game tonight and had a few beers there then a few more at a neighboring sports bar. I came home with a nice buzz but no beer in the fridge, so decided to try to get all my security shit set up on my new computer since I have internet connection now. That was an hour ago. I'm at the stage now where I'm getting that "coming down" headache and basically ready for bed.
Anyway, I have a pretty busy weekend, so I figured I better throw these up while I actually kind of have the time. Someone requested a re-up Volumes 2, 7, & 10 of our WYDU Classics series, which is basically me making shit I want to hear once a month and then sharing with the readers. My copy of 2 is scratched beyond repair, so I'll have to make another one, but here is 7 & 10 along with a new installment for Dec, which I never posted up. January should be coming soon....
WYDU Classics Vol 7, July '07 http://www.sendspace.com/file/pv114v
1. Public Enemy - Get The F--- Outta Dodge (Escapism 1991) B-side to "Can't Do Nuthin' For You Man" Uncensored- 1991
2. 3rd Bass- 3 Strikes 5000 appeared on "Cactus Album Revisted"- 1990
3. UMC's- Blue Cheese12" dropped in 1991 also on "Fruits Of Nature" LP - 1991
4. Nine- Lyin King12" dropped in 1996 and was on the "Cloud Nine LP- 1996
5. Large Professor- The Mad Scientist:12" dropped in 1996. Was supposed to be on "The LP" that Geffen never released- 1996
6. Krumbsnatcha- Closer To God - 1997
7. 3rd Eye/ The Group Home- Ease Up :On "Who's The Man" OST - 1993
8. Digital Underground- Return Of The Crazy One :12" dropped in 93; From the LP "The Body Hat Syndrome- 1993
9. Rodney O & Joe Cooley- Get Ready To Roll :12" dropped in 1991; On The "Get Ready To Roll" LP- 1991
10. No Face- Half :12" dropped in 1990; On the "Wake Your Daughter Up" LP- 1990
11. Poison Clan- 2 Low Life Mutha's :On "2 Low Life Mutha's" LP- 1990
12. Chino XL- No Complex :12" dropped in 96; on the "Here To Save You All" LP- 1996
13. Rasco- The Unassistated :12" dropped in 97; appeared on "Time Waits For No Man" LP- 1998
14. Casual- That's How It Is:12" dropped in 93'; LP "Fear Itself"- 1994
15. Pharcyde- Pandemonium : Apperead on the "Street Fighter" OST- 1995?
16. De La Soul- Ego Trip 3 : B-side to Ego Trippin 2 -1993
17. Wrecks N Effect- New Jack Swing : 12" dropped in 89; S/T album- 1989
18. Young Black Teenagers- Tap The Bottle : LP "Dead End Kidz Doin' Life Time Bids"-1993
19. Fat Boys- Crushin': On the "Crushin'" LP - 1987
WYDU Classics Vol 10, Oct '07
http://www.sendspace.com/file/lq4q8w
1. No B.S. Allowed - Stetsasonic (Blood, Sweat, & No Tears, 1991)
2. Music Maestro - B Fats (Music Maestro, 1989)
3. Smooth - Powerule (Powerule Vol 1, 1991)
4. Keep Your Hands High - Tracey Lee feat Notorious B.I.G. (Many Facez, 1997)
5. Well Known Asshole - Obie Trice (12" b/w Gimme My Dat Back, 1999)
6. Bass (remix) - King Tee (Act A Fool, 1988)
7. Dress Code - WC & The Madd Circle feat Coolio (Ain't A Damn Thing Changed, 1991)
8. Fucked In The Game - Spice 1 (Spice 1, 1992)
9. I Got 5 On It (remix) - Luniz feat Dru Down, E-40, Richie Rich, Shock G, Humpty Hump, Spice 1 (12" b/w Orginal Version, 1995)
10. Call It What U Want - Above The Law feat 2pac & Money B (Black Mafia Life, 1992)
11. Buck Tha Devil - Da Lench Mob (Guerillas In The Mist, 1992)
12. Pawns In The Game - Professor Griff & The Last Asiatic Disciples (Pawns In The Game, 1991)
13. Freedom Got A Shotgun - Movement Ex (Movement Ex, 1990)
14. That's How It Is - Crusaders For Real Hip Hop (De JaVu It's 82, 1992)
15. Spam - Milk D feat Ad Rock (Never Dated, 1995)
16. Warriors Drum - King Just (Mystics Of The Gods, 1995)
17. Into The Future - MC Rell & The Houserockers (Into The Future, 1989)
18. Fuck All Y'all - Troubleneck Brothers (Unreleased Album ?, ?)
WYDU Classics Vol 12, Dec '07 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1RTQUAJ7
1. Yoke The Joker - Naughty By Nature
2. Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz And Benz - Lost Boyz
3. Pyscho - Lords Of The Underground
4. How To Flow (Abstract Remix) - Nice & Smooth
5. Cell Therapy - Goodie Mob
6. Sugarhill - AZ
7. A to the K - Cypress Hill
8. The Funkiest - Funkdoobiest
9. You Don't Hear Me Tho' - Rodney O & Joe Cooley
10. Hustlers - Above The Law
11. Jiggable Pie - AMG
12. At Your Own Risk (Marley Marl Remix) - King Tee
13. I-ight (Video Version) - Doug E Fresh
14. Record Jock - Dana Dane
15. Peachfuzz - KMD
16. Yes - Blacksheep
17. Fades Them All - Jamal
18. Can I Bus - Common & Y-Not
19. Motivate - MC ADE
1/24/2007
The Week That Wasn't.....
I'm not the most computer saavy person in the world. If it wasn't for my "web-guy" (thanks Chris), this blog would be done on whatever default setting Blogger has. I still haven't switched over to the "New Blogger" because I hate having to try to learn something new. Needless to say, I'm still having problems with the burning feature on my new computer. The thing does everything but wipe your ass, but I still can't figure out whats wrong with the burning feature. Everything else works fine as far as playing, coping disc stuff to the hard drive, ect.... Guess I'll wait and see what happens when I try to use some different disks in it. This post took me four hours Sunday to write up, not all at once, I was watching the NFL playoffs while writing (go Bears), but I still hate wasting time like that. It was originally supposed to appear Friday, but I had a short day at work and wasn't able to work on it. Then the whole burning issue happened, so you get Friday's post a few days late.
Most of you can skip over this next rant, because honestly, I haven't had a lot of problems in the past and 90% of the visitors to this site are pretty cool cats. I plan on getting back to setting one day a week aside for re-upping past posts and doing requests. I used to do "Requests Fridays", which took a TON of time and ended up me spending sometimes as much as 6 hours on a Friday night of all nights filling requests. I want to get back to that (maybe not on Friday) one of these days, but for the time being, I'll kind of do requests and re-ups as I go. I'll be the first to admit, I can get absent minded, flakey, and totally space stuff off (just ask Chris or Polarity, I still owe them CD's from last year). Just give me a little time and sooner or later I will get to it. If it's been a few days and I still haven't posted you request/re-up and I said I would, I have no problem being POLIETLY reminded. If you light up the c-box with your request over and over, I'm going to tell you to go fuck yourself and ignore you from then on out. I'm not doing this for my own good. I'm trying to help others recoup stuff they've lost or just want to hear something they missed. I enjoy helping others. I think it keeps the music and the right hip hop vibe alive. But I'm not going to deal with morons like the one we had last week. Plain and simple. Enough of the rant. Like I said most of my reqular visitors and commenters are class acts, but it only takes a few to piss me off.
back to our regularly scheduled post.......
Used Music Shopping Trip 1-9-07, Cheapo Disk, Denver, CO; Total Spent $9.49
Our Jan 9th trip took us to Cheapo Disk (thats the real name) in Denver off of Colorado BLVD. Cheapo Disk is an odd place. I've had days when I've walked out of there with 15 CD's of some pretty hard to find stuff. Then I've had days when all I found was Deion Sanders, 2 Big MC, and other corny ass shit. You never know what you are going to find there. It's also a little more spend than some places. You rarely find anything under $4.95 and most things are between $6-$8. They also rarely have sales like Second Spin does right down the street. But as I said, from time to time you'll find some hard to find shit in there. I've came out of there with an ORIGINAL Masta Ace - Music Man disc, A-Teem, Dred Scott and some others. El Travster was pretty broke this week, so the limit was set at $10, meaning that if I wanted to walk out of the store with two discs, I was going to be limited to a $3.95 disk and a $4.95 choice, limiting my choices even more. I probably should have went to a cheaper place, but it was on the way home from work. Well there wasn't a lot there on this trip. I probably could have rounded up 5-6 decent choices, but I ended up with these two choices, one a jewel in the rough and one a.....how can I put this nicely, fuck it, it sucked.
Rough House Survivors - Straight From The Soul (Relativity, 1992) ($4.95)
This was a slept on release from the early 90's. I should know, I slept on it until Polarity sent me a copy of it a couple years ago. I guess I was judging a book by it's cover, thinking it was one of those half-talented hard rock releases that was plauging the music at that time. With Tony Dofat doing his best Pete Rock impressions, the album lives up to its name, containing soulful beats and decent lyrics. I haven't seen this around in the past five years much, but then again, I've only been looking for it for the past couple years. Amazon has it pretty cheap, but after you mix in shipping costs, I was fine with picking it up for what I did. If you want to download this album, check Jaz's blog as he posted it up a few weeks ago: Cold Rock Da Spot
E-Dawg - Platinum (Spot Entertainment, 1999) ($3.95)
http://www.zshare.net/download/e-dawg-rar.html
1. Journey feat Loon-E-Toon
2. No More Tears feat Money B
3. Shackles feat Sir-Mix-a-Lot & Francce
4. Coolin' feat Loon-E-Toon & Francce
5. Wanna Ride feat E Ness
6. Eye For An Eye feat Francce
7. Crackin' feat Travy Trav (No, not me), Dick Bone, Smokey The Last Emperor
8. Sexxxin feat DUBL
9. Throw 'Em Up Smokey The Last Emperor
10. Gots To Get Paid feat DUBL, Loon-E-Toon
Coming from the Northwest, I've always supported the artists from the region when I can. E-Dawg was down with Sir-Mix-a-Lot in the early 90's and dropped "You Can't Slip" as the B-side to the "Baby Got Back" single. It's was a nice cut and got me hyped to E-Dawg's flow and voice. He also did some stuff on the "Seattle...The Darkside" compilation in '93 and released a 12" on Def American (Rick Rubin's label) called "Drop Top", also in '93. My boys on Streets On Beats hipped me to his "Despardo" album that dropped in '01. When I found this a couple months ago, I was curious. At $3.95 and a couple of the copies gone, I figured I better pick up this last copy. I can't find shit on this release, even his myspace page doesn't mention it. It was actually recorded here in Denver and released on a Denver label, so I don't know if it was a local thing or what. The album is pretty bad, save for a couple songs. Weak production, too much singing on the hooks, in bad west coast fashion, plaugue the album. I'm actually sorry I'm upping this, but since Jaz already posted up the Rough House Suriviors album, this is what you have.
Couple Requests
King Of Swing (Bum Rush/Virgin, 1990) http://www.zshare.net/download/kings-of-swing-rar.html
1. Strategy 
2. Betty Boop
3. Nod Your Head To This
4. Show Em What U Got
5. U Know I Love Ya Baby
6. 2 Minutes of Funk
7. Swing Fever
8. Funky Breakdown
9. Rumors
10. The Hustler
11. Go Cocoa!
Nine - Unreleased, B-Sides, Rare Release
http://www.zshare.net/download/nine-rar.html
1. I'm Comin'
2. Rah Ni--a
3. Six Million Ways To Die feat Tragedy
4. Feel No Guilt feat Demasters
5. Who Not Knowin'
6. Watcha Want Remix
7. It's Ugly
8. Ova Confident Remix
9. Famaldahyde
10. Me, Myself, & My Microphone
11. The Vetern
12. Watcha Want Instrumental
13. When The Shit Hits The Fan
14. Chuck Chillout Show feat Dueces Wild
15. Back Together feat Full Force
16. Gods, Earths, & 85'ers feat Poor Righteous Teachers
Someone wanted the Nine albums, but those have been posted recentely on other sites. This is something I don't believe I've posted up before, and I told Dan Love that I would set it up. Nice collection of tracks he's done with others, some remixes, and just funky stuff.
1/23/2007
Another Half-Assed Post
Well once again, there will be a postponment of the post that was originally to be done Friday. I wrote the thing up on my home computer, saved it as a word document, burned it, along with some rar. files of some requests, brought it to work and..........there was nothing on the disk when I went to load it this morning. So either, hopefully, I have a bad RW-Disk, or my brand new computer isn't working right. I haven't tried to burn anything to a disk yet, except that, so I'm not sure. I don't have any normal disks right now to try that.
Anyway, since work has been busy this week, and for some odd reason I'm supposed to actually work while I'm at work, I'm putting up another half assed post just to get by with. Not much time for writing (and me being the perfectionist I am when it comes to doing this damn thing, it bugs the fuck out of me) so you'll get some EP's, one request (sorry about the timeliness of the others) and some words thrown together, and we'll call it a post.
Del The Funkee Homosapian - The Lost EP http://www.zshare.net/download/del-tha-funkee-homosapien-lost-ep-rar.html
Sorry no track list or cover art. I don't even remember where the hell I got this. A blog? Cocaine Blunts? Hell, I don't remember. Honestly, I think I listened to it once or twice so I don't even remember what it contains. I had with me, so up it goes!
Diamond D - The Remix EP http://www.zshare.net/download/diamond-and-the-psychotic-neurotics-remixes-reissue-ep-2003-rar.html
1. Sally Got A One Track Mind (Showbiz Remix)
2. Best Kept Secret (Extended LP Mix)
3. Best Kept Secret (Instrumental)
4. Check One, Two (Diamond Vibe Mix)
5. Sally Got A One Track Mind (2 Track Beatdown Mix)
6. Feel Da Vibe (LP Diamond Mix)
If I remember right, this was a white label vinyl only mix that Polarity blessed me with. I'm sure it's been up before, but that's what a half assed post is, a bunch of re-runs.
Someone wanted this. I had a nice little write up for the album on the post on my home computer...butttttttttt......Dame Dash initial project, yeah, that Dame Dash. The album sounds a lot like the first KMD album, and the Native Tongue movement come to think of it, which is a good thing. Good review of it here
The Future Sound - The Whole Shabang Vol. 1
http://www.zshare.net/download/future-sound-rar.html
1. Intro
2. This Is a Game 
3. Function
4. Flashback Relay and The Whole Shabang
5. Star Struck (Caterpillar Style)
6. Thread
7. Bop Step
8. Lady/What's a Bro to Do?
9. Pixie Groove
10. Scriptic Cryptic
11. Primates in Stitches
12. Flashback Relay and The Whole Shabang (Wig Out Mix)
13. Sucka Set 14. Jungle-O
15. When the Ends Meet (Life of the Futuristic B-Boy)
Sorry for the half-assed post. Hopefully I'll figure out what the fuck is wrong with the computer and fix it, or I'll just re-write the whole thing, which isn't really what I want to do. I need one of those flash sticks or something. Or home internet......Fuck it all
Trav
1/22/2007
Underapperciated West Coast Part Four
This is actually plan B as far as posts goes. I had originally worked on the post I wanted to do on Friday at home over the weekend and was going to bring it to work with me to post up today, but I forgot the CD-RW disk I had the word document on, so I'm going with a post I was going to do tomorrow.
Two of the artists I was going to highlite on this series had their albums posted up on other blogs last week, so I was left scrambling for back up plans. The original plan I had, I left at home, figuring I wasn't going to do this post until tomorrow. Since I travel with booklets of Mp3 disks to listen to while I'm at work, I was left scrambling for something just so I can crank out a post today since I've been absent for since Thursday.
Hiero Vs. Hobo 
http://www.zshare.net/download/hiero-vs-hobo-kmel-rar.html
Normally I wouldn't call Hieroglyphics underrated in any way. Maybe even overrated in some aspects. But there are some aspects and groups under the Hiero umbrella that did get overlooked. In the grand scheme of beefs, one such beef that always seems to get overlooked is the famed Hiero Vs. Hobo Junction beef that happened in the mid 90's. This jumped off after Saafir did a little spot on Casuals's "Fear Itself" LP. When Saafir started working on his debut "Boxcar Sessions", Casual was supposed to return the favor. For whatever reason, Casual never did drop that guest apperance and the beef was on.
The two crews decided to settle this dispute on Sway & Tech's "Wake Up Show". Saafir lights up the first couple MC's, but Casual and Tajai held their own. The rest of the Hobo Junction doesn't really do anything to impress and sometimes it sounds like Saafir is using writtens, but you be the judge who wins.
I'm a little short on time so here are a couple more Hiero goodies, one which I think has been posted on here and other places in the past. The other, I can't recall seeing before.
Extra Prolific - Like It Should Be Done http://www.zshare.net/download/extra-prolific-like-it-should-be-rar-zs7.html
1. Intro
2. Brown Sugar
3. In Front Of The Kids
4. Is It Right?
5. Sweet Potato Pie
6. Cash Money
7. One Motion
8. Never Changing
9. First Sermon
10. Now What
11. It's Alright
12. In 20 Minutes
13. Go Back To School
14. The Fat Outro
15. Brown Sugar (Domino Remix)
16. Give It Up
Hiero Oldies Vol 1 & 2 http://www.sendspace.com/file/n4bqea (Both Volumes are in the zip)
1.Souls Of Mischief - 'Souls Of Mischief'
2.Casual and Pep Love - 'It Gets No Better'
3.Del - 'What Do You Say?'
4.Casual - 'Gotta Lotta'
5.Pep Love & Jay Biz - 'Everyday of the Week'
6.Tajai & Extra Prolific - 'Let it Ride'
7.Souls of Mischief - 'Step to My Girl'
8.Casual - 'Where They At?'
9.Del - 'Nowadays'
10.Pep Love & Jay Biz - 'Reckless/Hush'
11.Souls of Mischief - 'Live on WKCR, NYC (Stretch and Bobbito Show 11/13/92)'
Vol 2
1.Souls of Mischief - 'Batting Practice (original version)'
2.Casual - 'Fear No Evil'
3.Del - 'Neighborhood'
4.Casual, Opio & Tajai - 'Rippers'
5.Pep Love & Jay Biz - 'Can I Kill 'Em'
6.Del - 'Pistol Whippers'
7.Souls of Mischief - 'Our Secret'
8.Casual - 'Me-O-Mi-O (Domino Remix)'
9.Del - 'Crazy Del Song W/ Beyond The Cloak of Darkness'
10.Pep Love & Casual - 'Feeling for the Flow'
11.Souls of Mischief - 'Chaos and Turmoil
I have requests for tomorrow as well, so if you requested something....hang tight, hopefully it'll be up tomorrow
Trav
1/18/2007
Underappreciated West Coast Part 3
Back when Ice Cube was relevant and the Lench Mob was in full force, this unknown group came outta no where called Kausion. In the early 90's I was a huge Ice Cube fan. So, anything he touched I would have to have it. For the few of you that know my tastes, know I love the gangsta shit. This is right up the alley of some CMW or Westside Connection. The beats here are similar to something after Death Certificate maybe even the Predator. If you ever checked of Mack 10's debut, there is also an element of that here. 
The group memebers are: Gonzoe, Kaydo & Cell. Some of you true west coast heads may know Gonzoe from his solo work. He also joined The Regime after Kausion was over, which included Tech N9ne, Yukmouth of the Luniz & even Poppa LQ of Rap-A-Lot fame. Mack 10, B-Real and K-Dee make guest appearaces on this album. This straight G-shit, with a hint of g-funk on a few songs. My favs are: "Land of the Skanless" & "Steal At Will". This IMO is the most underrated west coast album bar none. I used to feel that WC & The Maad Circle was, but the bloggers and diggers have found that album and its been heavily promoted on these boards:
Kausion
-Brian
Underrated/Underapperciated West Coast Albums Part 2
Threat - Sickinnahead (Mercury/Polygram, 1993)
http://www.zshare.net/download/threat-rar.html
1. PDK
2. Sucka Free
3. Niggas Like You
4. 4 Deep
5. Let the Dogs Loose
6. When It Rains
7. Get Ghost
8. 24-7
9. Shuta Fuck Up
10. Ass Out
11. Zuu
12. Whore Said It's Yours
13. Give It Up
14. Shote (Threw Wit Money)
15. Bust One fa Me
16. So Now You Know
Before the westside turned into the land of G-Funk, DJ Pooh, Bobcat, Battlecat, and even Sir Jinx were the producers of choice. Coming with hard funk tracks, that were hard enough to drive down the Boulevard in the six-trey, yet soulful enough to make the listener really feel the pain and restlessness that was experianced in the west in the early 90's. True, one can only hear "Funky Worm" and "More Bounce To The Ounce" so many times before it gets repeatitious, but something about those old funk beats that just screams "good times".
One of the better pre G-Funk albums was L.A. MC, Threat's "Sickinnahead". Threat had been in the LA scene for most of the early 90's, appearing on Yo-Yo's "Black Pearl" album, 2 pac's "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z", Tha Alkaholik's "21 & Over", our last feature, King Tee's "Tha Triflin' Album", Ice Cube's "Death Certificate" along with the "Get The Fist Movement" and some other features.
In 93' Threat dropped is solo release, "Sickinnahead", which featured production from westcoast beatmakers, DJ Pooh & Bobcat. The album is severely over looked, even in the west coast. Threat comes with a strong delivery and dope lyrics. There are many verses on the album the stick in the listeners head. I was a fan of his verses on the Lik's track "Who Dem N---a's" and Pac's "Peep Game", so picking this album up when dropped was a must. The album jumps off into one of the best intro tracks there is. "PDK" comes with an opening verse that just sets the whole mood for the albums
"I’m here to let you know that no ho plays me
I don’t do crack cause I’m already crazy
And we don’t need no mo’, psycho people
Guns don’t kill people, people kill people
Haven’t you heard, there’s a new sheriff in to-own
But one black chief can’t calm us do-own
We floss ‘em out wide, the nigga ain’t from our tribe
Not +Tribe Called Quest+, the tribe called West
Too legit to quit so tell the cops they can kiss my
young black ass cause I’m out to get mine (you’re gonna get yours)
Let it be known, to all, men, that roam the planet earth
that Allah come firstLivin in the L.A. Zoo you gotta be a warrior
Make sure you got a good lawyer
Get caught with a spear that’s fifteen years
I hit the fence with my khakis and still they shootin at me
Tryin to kill us off like buffalo
Po-po can’t have my life, or my soul, so….."
I always had problems getting pass the first track, once I did, the whole album is like a trip through South Central, from harrassing the pan handlers, to getting faded in the 6-4, it's a like a day in the life of Deadly Threat. The single and video for "Let The Dog's Loose" got some play on Yo! as well. Tracks like "Sucka Free", "When it Rains", "24-7" tie the album nicely together in a very cohesive effort. The first half of the album is nearly flawless, while the second half slips a bit, but not enough to over shadow any progress he made early on.
Threat unfortunately pretty much vanished after polygram went tits up. He recently showed up on last year's "Street Music" by Defari, which I have yet to hear.
1/16/2007
Underapperciated & Underrated West Coast Albums Part One; King Tee - Tha Trifflin' Album
The left coast has always been somewhat of a step-child to the East Coast. From the beginning when Hip Hop migrated to the West, the west has always been in the shadows of "Big Brother". In the early days, west coast artists spent their time trying to copy their east coast conter-parts. Listen to Ice T's "Dog N' The Wax" for a prime example of just how closely the west was to the east.
Over the mid 80's, while the east coast artists still got love in the west, the west side started forging their own sound. Electro, which can be closely attributed to the Miami Bass sound, became an "in thing" as Uncle Jam's Army and the World Class Wreckin' Cru began taking over the scene. Pop Lockin' and breakin' became a lifestyle for on the Cali coast.
It wasn't until Ice T started doing songs like "6 in The Morning", which was a b-side to "Dog N' The Wax" and dropping Rhyme Pays that the west started carving out it's own niche. N.W.A. and Eazy-E would take it to a whole other level with their crime tales and funk samples.
From then on, the west would be just important in the history of Hip-Hop as the east. Yet, some west coast albums still don't get the credit they deserve. The next few posts will deal with such albums. We'll cover some albums from the west that could be just important in the grand scheme of hip hop as some of the preverbal east coast classics.
First up is one of my personal favorite west coast artists, King Tee. Hailing from Compton, 
California, Tee took the aspects of some of his favorite east coast music and applied them to his own brand of west coast funk. His early attempts were produced by DJ Unknown, who did a lot of Ice T's early stuff, and a young DJ Pooh, who would go on to become a legend in west coast circles. King Tee's first album, "Act A Fool" is a west coast classic in its own right. With tracks like "Bass (remix)" and "Payback's a Mutha", Tee perfected a "crazy drunken style" waaaay before ODB or any others. The video for "Bass" was an staple on early "Yo! MTV Raps" and featured many early west coast artists and exposed the nation to the art of hydralics and "hittin' switches" way before it caught on in the early 90's.
In 1990, King Tee would drop his sophomore LP, "At Your Own Risk", which would futher cement him into the West heirarchy. It was that LP's remix of the title track that was produced by Marley Marl that would mark one of the first times the East and West colaborated in such a way. In 1993, Tee would jump back in the scene with his crew, The Likwit Crew, which would would introduce the world to the "Alkaholiks", consisting of J-Ro, E-Swift (who DJ'd on Tee's second album) and Tash, who was absent on "Tha Trifflin' Album", for serving a bie after a DUI arrest.
"Tha Trifflin' Album" features classical west coast production from legendary west coast producers such as DJ Pooh, DJ Alladin, and a relatively new comer at the time, Broadway. King Tee's subject matter on this, as well as his other efforts, is what sets him apart from the traditional "Gangsta" artist. Tee dedicates a lot of his lyrics to the art of drinking, not drive-by's and and traditional west coast fare. The album does contain a lot of the funk samples that were found during the times, but Tee somehow makes it all sound fresh. "Got It Bad Y'all" is our first introduction to J-Ro & E-Swift that leaves the listener singing a long with the fly hook. Sex rhymes are also common subject matter, with the WYDU favorites "Bus Dat Ass", "Blow My Sox Off", and "Where'sa Hoe Sat I & II" dealing with jocking the females. Another sorely overlooked Cali MC, Threat (credited as Deadly Threat on this LP) shows up on another classic, "A Hoe B-4 Tha Homie" telling that pussy whipped homeboy to pull his head out of his ass and realize his bitch is a skeezer.
This album has always been one of my favorite west coast LP's that doesn't nearly get the credit it should. King Tee has always been a fun listen that doesn't get to serious and just throws that classic west coast funk at your ears. This album is one of my prized collections. It's one of the few CD's that I haven't lost since originally buying it when it dropped. I don't see it much anymore in the stores, but it can still be found on some of the used music dealers online. While it's not as spendy as "Act A Fool", which is going for over $100, still expect to pay between $20-60 bucks for it. I don't generally condone spending that kind of money on any used CD, but if you can track one down on the low end, it's well worth the price.
King Tee- Tha Triflin' Album (Capital, 1993) http://www.zshare.net/download/king-tee-rar.html
1. Drunk Tekneek
2. I Gotta Call Earl
3. Got It Bad Y'All - King Tee featuring The Alkaholiks
4. On Tha Rox 
5. Just Flauntin'
6. At Your Own Risk (Budha Mix)
7. King Tee's Beer Stand
8. We Got Tha Fat Joint - King Tee featuring Nefretitti And Mad Kap
9. Where'sa Hoe Sat
10. A Hoe B-4 Tha Homie - King Tee featuring Deadly Threat And Ice Cube
11. Blow My Sox Off
12. Where'sa Hoe Sat (Cont.)
13. Triflin' Nigga
14. Black Togetha Again
15. Bus Dat Ass - King Tee featuring The Alkaholiks
16. Tha Great
King Tee Myspace (photos from his site) http://www.myspace.com/kingtila
1/12/2007
The Week That Was & QB's Finest; Part Three
What's up Balla's and Ballettes? Thought I was going to be out of town this weekend, but Old Man Winter threw yet another wrench into my plans. It's currently a balmy one degree above zero with small flakes of snow falling. People have this misconception of Denver being a freezer box in the winter time but in reality nothing is further from the truth. In a normal year, it may snow at night but by the next afternoon it's 50-60 degrees and sunny. This year though, we've been hit by winter weather four weeks in a row with one monster blizzard. This weekend we are getting only six inches of snow, but the "cold enough to make your piss freeze before it hits the ground" temperatures that are supposed to last at least through the weekend is going to keep me inside. Looks like a good weekend to get my collection back in order. So if any of you have been waiting for my master list and/or my want list, it should FINALLY been done this weekend (fingers crossed of course).
NEW BLOGS
There has been an abundance of new blogs in the past month just when I didn't think there could be anymore. Some good, some so-so, some I won't bother to look at ever again. We are starting to feel like an old timer in this blogging land. None the less there have been some QUALITY, emphasis on quality, blogs that have popped up the past couple of weeks. I'm a strong believer mentioning these, because the more quality blogs out there, the better off we all are.
Cold Rock Da Spot
All I have to say about this blog is: It's about freaking Time!!!! This blog is ran by Jaz, one the more helpful and down to earth cats I've came across in this cyber space land. He's also one of the most knowledgeable hip hop dudes I've met. We go back a year or so as some of the original Cocaine Blunts memebers that was a treasure chest for lost and out of print albums before the blogs started taking over. His blog features some hard to find remixes, videos, and insightful and detailed posts you are going to find on the internet. I really hope his blog takes off because the knowledge he has to share is priceless. Give him a visit.
Poisonous Paragraphs
I've had some contact with this Boston cat before, mostly through my blog and some myspace messages and was impressed with his knowledge and writing skills. So when he started a blog of his own, I was immediately interested in what it would be like. Let's say my expectations haven't been let down. Plenty of detailed (I'm a fan of writing and this guy's pretty good) posts and some joints that even I wasn't aware of so it's definately worth checking out.
Press Rewind If I Haven't Blown Your Mind
I just found this blog this morning and I spent a good hour on it. It's original in subject matter by the fact that it's posting up scans of old Hip Hop articles from magazines such as "Rap Pages", "The Source", "Subculture" and others. I was a BIG fan of hip hop magazines back in the day, so this was like a treasure chest of articles for me. Makes me wish I wasn't dumb and left my boxes of "The Source" (I had every issue from Dec 91' until sometime in 98) at my parents house and let them thrown them out without me knowing it. This is definately any oldtimers dream, so pay the site a visit.
Premium Blend
This blog is ran by another a previous Cocaine Blunt original member, Kirk. The blog isn't neccesarily new, but it was one of the first five blogs I started checking out waaaaay back in early 05' and he's revamped it and is coming back better than ever. Again, if you have a short attention span and don't bother reading more than two sentances, you'll miss out on the main reason this blog is so good.
Bass Lines // Angles and Rhymes
This is another blog I've taken an interest in in the passing weeks. Some quality hard to find 12"s along with some dope UK early Hip Hop, which I of course slept on. It's an excellent example of some of the great blogs coming out lately
Back In The Day
I of course have to give any of my Denver Breathern some shine as well, especially if it's good. Kido fired up his blog in early/mid Dec and has been killing it ever since then. We seem to have some of the same tastes in Hip Hop so if you enjoy this site, I'm sure you'll be down with his as well. Some classics floating around on it.
and the last one for the time being.....
And It Don't Stop
I'm sure I've ran across this in the past but forgot to link it up or something. Anyway, I re-discovered this this morning while playing around and was impressed. There isn't your run of the mill material on here. There is a bunch of classic R&B, funk, Old School Hip Hop (meaning early 80's), and other assorted goodies. It's going to take me awhile to get caught up on that one.
It seems with the abundance of new blogs out there I'm missing stuff that people have either posted in comments or in the cbox. If you think there is a blog I should check out, feel free to drop a link. Every link I post in the link section is stuff I personally check out at least 3-5 times a week.
Weekly Top Five
A new weekly feature for those of you who give a rip, I'll be listing the top 5 things I've been playing over the past week. It could be old, it could be new, it'll just be what I've been playing in my headphones (I don't have an Ipod, I'm a broke ass).
This past week I've had plenty of listening time. I've been getting off of work, going home playing a game of Madden while listening to an album or two. Then I go lay down (us old folks need their naps) while listening to an album then usually catch a couple more in the evening while doing some writing. It's been more newer music this week, for some odd reason.
1. Juggaknots - Use Your Confusion
I didn't have enough listens to include this on the year end list. I didn't even have a chance to listen to it until mid Dec, but this week this has been on my discman every day. This shit really grows on you. Maybe it's just the fact they are "old school" enough for me, but this is better than most albums out now a days. "Leon Phelps" and "30 Something" are tracks that get the rewind button multiple times.
2. Masta Ace - Hits U Missed 3, Hits U Missed 4, and Grand Masta: Remix & Rarity Collection
Ace is my favorite Hip Hop artist hands down so naturally anthing fairly new from him is going to get a lot of play from me. Good luck tracking down Hits U Missed 3 & Hits U Missed 4 because those are only being sold at his shows which were in Europe the last I knew of. I was lucky enough Phatsoul was able to attend one of his shows (WHERE IS THE SHOW WRITE UP FOOL?!?!?! HAHAHA) in Croatia and he sent them to me. They are something I'll definately be buying when they become available. Don't ask me to up them because I won't. I'm close to his cousin and out of respect to her and his site, I will NOT upload any of his material.
3. Iomos Marad - Go Head
This was a suprising release in my mind. His "Deep Rooted" LP from 04' was kind of dull, but this little jazzy ditty has gotten a few spins this week. Definately worth checking out if you haven't.
4. Talib Kweli & Madlib - Liberation
I've never been a big fan of Madlib, at least not since the Lootpack days and Ta lib hasn't been exactly the most exciting MC in awhile now but this isn't all that bad. Madlib comes with actual hip hop beats instead of some off the wall sounds made on jupiter bullshit and Talib is Talib, so that is good or bad.
5. Ro Blvd & Free Speech - Laffy Taffy Rots Your Teeth
This has been floating around as a free download for close to six months or more but I was hesitant to listen to it until this week. I must admit, while not breaking down any barriers themselves, it's a good listen.
QB's Finest: Part Three, Cormega
I have to be honest, this Queens Bridge series hasn't really excited me as much as it should have. Maybe it's the fact that besides Poet, Nas and the some of the Juice Crew related stuff, the QB sound doesn't always appeal to my tastes.
The next artist is looked upon as almost god status by some circles, but honestly I've never been the biggest fan of his. Cormega, or simply 'Mega, has been around since the early 90's but a trip upstate left him out of the QB golden age of Nas & Mobb Deep releases. He caught an early buzz on the streets while still in jail after Nas penned "One Love", which he name drops 'Mega. When 'Mega was released from the pen, Nas hooked him up on the "Affirmative Action" (A song which I love) track from "It Was Written" and gave him a slot in the super group "The Firm". Nas and Cormega would end up having a fall out which resulted in his removal from the group along with his album "The Testament" being shelved for the next four years.
Finally in 2000, Mega got a release from his contract and came with his own label, dropping the shelved album and any future releases. He has since made amens with Nas and recently performed on stage with Nas and Foxxy for the first in over 10 years.
Cormega - Hustler/Rapper http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YTC46DOT
1. Three
2. Piece Maker Interlude
3. What's Your Poison? 
4. Da Bridge 2001
5. Straight Outta QB
6. Crime Side
7. Realmatic
8. Loyalty
9. All I Need Is You
10. Hold His Own
11. Who Can I Trust?
12. Testaments
13. We Gon Buck
14. La Familia
15. Usual Suspects
16. Freestyle
17. Angel Dust
18. Affirmative Action
19. Affirmative Action (Remix)
20. Freestyle
21. Freestyle
22. Montana Diary
23. Slow Down Baby
24. Freestyle
25. Freestyle
26. Killaz Theme
27. They Forced My Hand
28. Poetry
Re-UPS!!! I haven't done my Friday request thing in awhile, mainly because of the holidays, traveling and basically not wanting to but they'll be back soon. Maybe not next week, but soon. Here a couple joints people had requested that I happen to have with me.
Pete Nice & Daddy Rich - Dust To Dust
http://www.zshare.net/download/prime-minister-pete-nice-daddy-rich-rar.html
1. Rat Bastard 2. Sleeper 3. Kick the Bobo 4. Verbal Massage 5. Lumberjack 6. Pass the Pickle 7. Rapsody (In J Minor) 8. Ho 9. Outta My Way Baby 10. 3 Blind Mice 11. World According to Hubert Dover 12. Rich Briing 'Em Back 13. Blowin' Smike 14. Double Duty Got Dicked 15. Dust to Dust 16. Verbal Massage, Pt. 2
I don't give a fuck what anyone says, I still love this album.
Godfather Don - Diabolique http://www.zshare.net/download/godfather-don-rar.html
1. Insane 2. MC Assault 3. Big Katz (featuring Sir Menelik) 4. Who Is Here??? 5. Burn RMX 6. Diabolique 7. Kaos 8. Live & Let Die 9. Life Ain't the Same (featuring Sir Menelik and Mike L.) 10. Dip Dip Die!!! 11. Make Em Suffer 12. Connections 13. Pick Up the Mic 14. Voices 15. Y 16. No Competition (featuring Mike L and Scaramanga) 17. Properties of Steel 18. Y
1/11/2007
Used CD Shopping Trip Week One
One of the finer things in life is going to some second hand store, or even better yet, some mainstream coporate store, and find some buried treasure. It's a great thing pulling out a copy of Nice & Smooth's self titled debut (Even better would be an orginal copy released on Sleeping Bag) out of the used CD/Wax bin for $4.99 or less. You giggle to yourself as you take it the register, thinking you are basically committing Grand Theft Larceny.
Sure, this doesn't happen a lot. Most of the time I just pick up something I've lost over the years or some corny ass shit that they are basically giving away. For us older cats though (and maybe even some of the younger ones), digging through so much used/old stuff that your fingers end up black at some store is something that we cherish.
Here in Denver, I have four stores I hit up on a fairly regular basis. With the amount of cats from Denver just here in blog land, I'm guessing these stores get picked over pretty good, so you kind of have to stay on top of things. I stick strictly to CD's these days, so I'm not much of a threat to the wax stores in town, but I've lost a few things on CD around thinking an album would be there the next time I came back. Still, I've had some trips to stores here where I drop $50 bucks on 10-15 CD's with no problem.
Times are hard, especially for us students that try to live on an interns wage. We need to find deals. We need to spend our money wisely while still trying to repair/increase our hip hop collection. For this reason, I'll be covering my weekly used shopping trips to the stores around here in Denver, or even better yet, if I head out of town and hit some stores on my travels as well. I plan on making this a weekly column of sorts, so feel free to drop comments, criticisms, bitches, or whatever else you might want to include. As usual, I'll up some of my goodies I get and share with the rest of the visitors.
Record Exchange; Boise, Idaho & Hastings; Boise Idaho 12-27-06 $10.11
Boise is still lacking in the independent stores. The Record Exchange has long been a staple for any true music fan in the town. I've been frequenting the store since I was a snot nosed kid. For the amount of money I've spent in that place, I could probably own it. There used to be two stores in town that moved around from time, but they are now only down to one, which is a shame. It means less digging for me. The owner, John, knows who I am whenever I walk into the store and even around town he always acknowledges me. And he should as much money as i spent in his stores. Their prices on both new and used albums are usually a little more expensive, but that's to be expected with the independent shops
Hastings is a regional chain as far as I know. They had stores in Montana and Utah when I went through those states. They used to have the cheapest used CD's in town. My friends and I used to go in there a lot and spend hours digging through stuff trying to find that special stuff.
Everytime I go home, I have to go through my old haunts. I jetted over to my man's house who was off work for the week for the holidays and we spent the next four hours going through everything in the two stores. I was kind of broke after the holidays, so I left somethings I normally would have bought. I usually won't spend over $7-$8 on a used CD unless it's something very hard to find.
Red Hot Lover Tone - #1 Player (5.99)
I think my man Polarity for getting me on the Tone kick. His self-titled opus was our the subject of our very first post, so getting any album by him has been high on my list since. I don't see them around much on my journey's, so picking this up for six bucks was a good thing to me.
Schoolly D - Welcome To America (3.99)
This was the last decent Schoolly D album, but out of his LP's I've heard this is still my least favorite. But being the hardcore Schoolly fan that I am and only being $3.99, I had to add it to my collection. It's probably more of me being unhappy with the present state of the music, this sounds better to than it did then. It's your typical Schoolly production: 808 kick drums and sparse drum beats and basslines with some guitars thrown in from time to time.
Second Spin; Denver, Colorado ($20 something) 1-1-07
Second Spin usually has a pretty good selection of used material along with good sales such as buy three, get one free or all CD's under 3.99 are half priced. That couple with the fact it's fairly close to my apartment makes this place one of my favorites. I had just got back into town the night before and wanted to get out of the apartment, so out I went in search of baragins. Second Spin was one of the places open and I was in luck, both sales were going.
Aloe Blacc - The Aloe Blacc EP (4.99) ***LINK*****
I've been on an Emanon/Aloe Blacc/DJ Exile kick since first really checking them out on last years the "Waiting Room". Since then I've checked out the "Anon & On" but I wasn't aware of this joint from 03' and still can't find much on it. It's cool, need a few more listens on it, but I had to check it out.
Edan - Beauty & The Beat (4.99)
Yes, I probably should already own this 05' release but I always found other things to buy when I had it in my hand. This album has been recieved critical acclaim since it's release, but while I think it's good, I've never seen it as the "Save All" that some Hipster-Nerd Hop blogs claim it as. But for $4.99, hell yeah, I'll take that, thank you!
Double X - Ruff, Rugged, & Raw (4.99) ***LINK****
I've had my eye on this CD for awhile there and finally figured I'd better grab it while I can (although I'm sure it's been there for at least three months, if not longer). You don't see this one around all that much anymore. It's not as good as their debut as Double X Posse as they try to fit into the hardcore element that was running rampant during this time, but there is sitll some good tracks. A nice pick up for the price.
Lench Mob - Guerillas In The Mist (Free after buying the first three)
This is one of those CD's that I have replaced 4-5 times by now. It's one of my favorite produced albums of all-times with lots of noise and slamming drum tracks. It's supposedly produced by Ice Cube, but I'd bet this is a classic example of ghost production. I'd buy this for $8 if had to, but I can't argue getting it for free. Classic Cube, when he still had an attitude.
The next three where in the bargain bin and were under 3.99, so they were half off
QD III Soundlab ($1.00)
I've never been a huge fan of this album, but for a buck, I'll add it to the collection. It has it's moments (Season Of The Vic), but for the most part it's just lack luster, but I was already in a buying frenzy by this point in time.
Chilly Tee - Get Off Mine ($1.00)
Yes, this is proof that money can't buy you a classic Hip Hop album. The son of the Nike mogul at the time wanted to rhyme, so he went out and got the Bomb Squad (my favorite all-time producers) and I'm sure he had some dudes write the lyrics for him and it still sucks. The last two songs are good enough to fork out a buck for though. That's about it though.
Nonchalant - Until The Day ($1.00)
Impulse buy, what can I say. It's not that bad of an album. It's a buck, what 
can you get for a buck?
2 In A Room - S/t (.50) LINK
This is more of a inside joke between me and Polarity (don't worry man, I'll send you a copy of it) than an actual buy. Hip House at it's best, it pumped out "Wiggle It" and "She Drives Me Crazy" that took the nation by storm...okay, maybe not the nation, but it was during the height of Hammer and Vanilla Ice, otherwise it would have. The three non hip house tracks are actually not all that bad.
1/10/2007
The Soul Occupants - My ChildHOOD
Ok, peeps, I didn't post for a long time and I will do my big 2006 wrap up soon. But I got something for you now. It's the first track of Tony Tigerstyle and me, it was recorded in april. This might be my personal favorite from 06, but I won't put my own tracks in my list, so you will get it now. Soulful with strong lyrics, you will notice that this MC is one of the most talented out there...
http://www.sendspace.com/file/y3uyib
Please check it out and let me know what you think, feel free to share it with anyone! The album might be out late 07, I will keep you updated!
One
SoulClap
QB's Finest Part Two; MC Poet
Thanks to the internet, the stories of "The Bridge Wars" have been pretty well documented in the past year or Two. MC Poet's role in it though, has just came to light for us who weren't exactly there or from the west coast. But thanks to like Unkut.com and Robbie's interview with Poet, to Noz's post on him in 05', his pitbull like fevor on the mic has been documented.
Long story made quick, Poet took offense to BDP's attack on the QB name after BDP straight took out Shan on "The Bridge is Over" & "South Bronx". What came next from Poet is something that I'm shocked isn't legendary in nature, "Beat You Down" comes straight at Kris' throat with lyrics like:
"I’ll make you and break you, just like a puzzle/
Melodie’s a Gooney Goo Goo, she need a muzzle/
she eat all the chicken, the turkey and the hamburger – if you touch it, you’ll get murdered!/
That’s why you’re skinny, puny and measeley/
she eat all the food and beat you up easily”
The song is viscious in nature and is just one of a handful of songs that Poet gets at people.
Another track MC Poet did, was almost the mistake of going after was Just Ice. Poet recorded "All Hell's Breaking Loose" with DJ Rockwell Noel in the late 80's and included a line that went something like "Just Ice Will Melt...". That and coupled with fact that Just Ice and BDP were pretty tight back in the day AND Just Ice don't play that shit, Ice came down to the QB looking for Poet, Ice talks about that day in this interview on Jayquan (AN EXCELLENT OLD SCHOOL SITE):
That’s good to hear. So now what is this with the whole Juice Crew? You took a Shot Gun out to Queens and you was ready to bury cats?
Yo that’s way back, and yo check this s--- out. It wasn’t the whole Juice Crew! I don’t even really like to talk about it, but when me and Black Poet last talked about it, we said we ain’t going to talk about it any more. See Poet wasn’t even down with Juice Crew. He made a record just dissing everybody. I heard “something, something and Just Ice will melt.” I was like “that’s all I need to hear.”
Isn’t Poet supposed to be righteous?
I didn’t know back then! All I know is me and two friends got in a car, I had a shot gun (We both start laughing.) my man had a shot gun, my other man had a 9. We went to Queens Village. We seen M.C. Shan, me and Shan is mad cool. Shan was like “what you doing out here? I said I am looking for this n----- named Poet. He said “that’s my man Just.” I said he talking about some Just Ice will melt s---, I am going to show him who the f--- is going to melt. He was like Just, squash that, that’s my man. (Just start laughing.) I say alright Shan that’s your man, talk to your man. (Troy starts laughing as Just Ice puts emphasis on “talk to your man.”) So that was the end of that. You know what, to this day me and Poet is mad cool.
Poet went on to form PHD, which released an album on Tuff City in 89' (Which is somewhere on this blog and I think on Bust The Facts as well) which is mostly in the same hard QB frame of mind as most of his material.
I offer up a couple zip's of some of Poets harder to find stuff that came to me with thanks to Phillaflava forums.
The first being titled an Unreleased Noel Rockwell & Poet EP, but I think it's more of homemade collection of their material more than anything else http://www.zshare.net/download/mc-poet-noel-rockwell-unreleased-ep-rar.html
1. Massacre
2. Taking U Out
3. Beat You Down
4. All Hell's Breakin' Loose
5. Wopp Sensation
6. Wopp Sensation Remix
Then a collection of PHD tracks that were not included on the PHD album
http://www.zshare.net/download/phd-non-album-tracks-rar.html
1. Concrete (Orginal Version)
2. I am the Authentic (Unedited Mix)
3. Keep It Real (Remix)
4. Kick that Shit and Get High ft. Poet & Legacy of Kamik
5. Set It ft Havoc, Reecey, & Kamikaze
6. The Grand PO
7. This is for my Peeps (Uncensored Version)
8. Set It Part 3 (Mixtape Remix)
Enjoy
Trav
1/07/2007
2006 : A Good Year?
I have never got on the internet to use it as a forum for my feelings or beliefs. I know there aren't a lot of people out that that would give a damn about how I feel about anything in particular, even if George Bush is fucking everything up in Iraq and it sounds like shit is only gonna get worse.
But, I wanted to apologize to Travis for my half hearted effort on his year end list. Travis puts a shit-load of effort into this blog. I know my man spends a ton of his free time trying to make this shit take off. And I look at my poor ass list for year end and it looks like shit to the others that contributed. I did more of a disservice than I did helping out for that year end post. Trav-I apologize for this. I would like a chance to explain myself:
That about sums it up. I look at my list and you know what, it is wack. Ghostface is the only person in 2006 that put out any good music. The Coup to me had a decent CD and Clipse was alright. Some people had a few ok songs and that's it. To be honest I was feeling Timberlake's album second most behind Ghost. 
To Trav and all of you, I am not going to apologize for not being excited about current hip-hop. But Travis I am going to apologize for my ass half effort. I don't get any ounce of joy thinking about any of this shit that is out now. To me hip hop sucks right now and I feel like every year that goes by, like sorry ass 2006, it takes us into a deeper hole. I didn't do a big year-end list cause I don't feel like anything deserved my time and/or effort. That list I gave to Trav to post from me is bullshit. I felt like I needed to give him something because he has helped me out with so many albums I have been looking for and he gave me a forum to spout off like this. (but the panties thing was mucho creative, I will give you that!!)
So Trav I am hoping that you too will post your list of Top 100 all time, because people need to rememeber what real hip hop was. If anyone wants any of these songs reply and I will post them up:
1. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Straighten It Out
2. Keith Murray - The Most Beautifulliest Thing In the World
3. Live Squad - Heartless
4. MC Breed (feat. 2Pac) - Gotta Get Mine
5. Gang Starr - Ex Girl To the Next Girl
6. Craig Mack - Flava In Ya Ear
7. Gang Starr - DWYCK
8. Nas - Made You Look
9. Dre & Snoop - Deep Cover
10. Souls - 93 Til Infinty
11. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y.
12. Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks on Me
13. Kanye - Through the Wire
14. N.W.A - Alwayz Into Somethin'
15. 50 Cent - In the Club
16. Dr. Dre - G Thang
17. Snoop - Who Am I
18. Crooklyn Dodgers
19. Jeru - Come Clean
20. Busta Rhymes - Woo Haa
21. Pharrell (feat. Jay-Z) - Frontin
22. N.W.A - Fuck The Police
23. Special Ed - Neva Go Back
24. L.O.D. - I Feel It (Remix)
25. E-Rule - Listen Up
26. Eazy-E - No More Questions
27. N.W.A - Dopeman
28. Da Lench Mob - Guerillas In Da Mist
29. Lil Bastards - Bitch Get a Job
30. MC Breed - Ain't No Future.....
31. EPMD - Crossover
32. Blahzay Blahzay - Danger
33. Ice Cube (feat. Das EFX) - Check Yo Self (Remix)
34. N.W.A (Ice Cube) - A Bitch Iz A Bitch
35. YZ - So Far the Ghetto's Been Good To Me
36. MC Lyte - Ruffneck
37. Masta Ace - Me & The Biz
38. Rap-A-Lot Family - Bring It On
39. Large P - Mad Scientist
40. Group Home - Supa Star
41. Ice Cube - Steady Mobbin
42. Ja Rule (feat. Bobby Brown) - Thug Lovin
43. Goodie Mob - Soul Food
44. Grand Puba - 360 Degrees
45. Crooklyn Dodgers II
46. M.O.P. - Rugged Neva Smooth (Remix)
47. Masta Ace - Sittin On Chrome
48. Dre & Cube - Natural Born Killaz
49. Common - I Used to Love H.E.R.
50. Ice Cube - 2 N The Morning
51. Chubb Rock - Just the Two of Us
52. Channel Live - Mad Izm
53. Leaders of the New School - Sobb Story
54. 2Pac - If My Homie Calls
55. ODB - Brooklyn Zoo
56. Ice Cube - Wicked
57. Luniz - Got 5 On It
58. MC Eiht - Streiht Up Menace
59. G-Unit - Wanna Get To Know You
60. 2Pac - I Get Around
61. Rap-A-Lot Family - Buck Em Down
62. Run DMC - Down With the King
63. EPMD - You Gots To Chill
64. House of Pain - Jump Around
65. Ill Al Skratch (feat. Brian McKnight) - I'll Take Her
66. Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up...
67. K-Solo - I Can't Hold It Back
68. CMW- Hood Took Me Under
69. Onyx - Slam
70. Ice-T (feat. Brother Marquis) - 99 Problems
71. Justin Warfield - K Sera Sera
72. KRS-One - MC's Act Like They Don't Know
73. Notorious BIG - Hypnotize
74. Kwame - Nastee
75. Smif N Wessun - Lets Git It On
76. D-Nice - Call Me D-Nice
77. Jay-Z (feat. Notorious B.I.G) - Brooklyn's Finest
78. Double XX Posse - Not Gonna Be Able To Do It
79. Big Tymers - This Is How We Do
80. Yaggfu Front- Busted Loop
81. Little Shawn - I Made Love
82. King Tee - Dippin
83. Ed OG & Da Bulldogs - Love Comes and Goes
84. Home Team - Pick It Up
85. Doug E Fresh & Slick Rick - The Show
86. Onyx - Throw Ya Gunz
87. Da Youngstas- Hip Hop Ride
88. Kriss Kross - Jump
89. Snoop (feat. Pharrell) - Beautiful
90. Ahmad, Saafir, Ras Kass - Come Widdit
91. Mz. Kilo - All Over A Ho
92. Scarface - Street Life
93. Styles P - Good Times
94. KRS-One - I Can't Wake Up
95. The Game - Hate It Or Love It
96. YBT - Tap the Bottle
97. Showbiz & AG - Soul Clap
98. Ultramagnetic MC's - Two Brothers With Checks
99. Public Enemy - Louder Than A Bomb (Remix)
100. Swizz Beats - Bigger Business
Nas' album title is kinda ironic.
-Brian
1/05/2007
Top 50 Songs Of 2006 and the WYDU Panties Award Part Deux
As the year get's ramped up and 2007 gets going (and we have to wait for the dreadfully boring Jan-Mar months to pass), we here at WYDU are taking time to reflect back on the past year. The happy times, the good times, the times of overpriced hookers and cheap drugs.
I still don't completely understand why everyone was hyping this year up like it was something special. Yes, there was some decent stuff, but few albums made me listen to them past a couple of weeks. Even the songs that came out this year were just on the so-so page. Rating songs these days has become next to impossible. Back in the day, you knew exactly what song on an album was a single and there might be 2-4 singles on an album. All you had to do was watch any video outlet and you knew exactly what tracks were out. Hell, these days you get 2 singles coming out at the same time. You have the street single, the somewhat single, the radio single, the club single, the old persons single, the thug single. It's fucking rediculous. I don't even pay attention to the almighty single anymore, which is very unfortunate.
Singles in the days were beautiful things. I bought more maxi singles than I did albums in the late 80's/early 90's. There was always some kind of bonus remix(es) or unreleased B-side (see; "Hard Like A Criminal" as the B-Side from "Straight From The Sewer", or almost any single from the "Enta The Stage Album"). They made you want to go get them. I guess you can just chalk the death of the maxi single as another internet fatality.
We'll cover the last 50 that I (MEANING ME) personally liked. I'm not saying these are the best, these were just the ones that I played the most this year.
****THESE ARE DOWNLOADABLE LINKS*******
49. Count Bass D - Junkie
48. Senim Silla - For The Record
47. Fatlip - Today's The Day
46. Bumpy Knuckles - The Life
45. Decompoze - Brand Nu
44. Mos Def, Jean Grae, Memphis Bleek - Crooklyn Dodgers 3
43. Lupe Fiasco feat Jill Scott - Daydreamin'
42. Special Teamz - Let The Music Play
41. Jay Z - Oh My God
40. Bronze Nazareth - The Bronze Man
39. Snoop Dogg feat B-Real - Vato
38. Ghostface - The Champ
37. Ras Kass - Last Laugh
36. Da Backwoodz - You Gonna Love Me
35. T.I. - What You Know About That
34. Little Brother - Cross The Line
33. Atmosphere - Horny Horns
32. Exile feat Aloe Blacc - Spittin Image
31. Nas feat Lauryn Hill - It Wasn't You
30. Snoop Dogg Feat Dr. Dre & D'Angelo - Imagine
29. Jay Z - Show Me What You Got
28. Cunninlynguists - The Gates
27. Nas Feat Jay Z - Black Republicans
26. Ice Cube - Child Support
25. Cunninlynguists - The Cell
24. Black Sheep - B-Boy's Theme
23. Young Joc - Goin' Down (Let the hate begin, but it reminds me of old Too Short/Miami Bass) 22. Nas - Don't Body Yourself
21. MC Lyte - The Wonder Years
20. Krs One - I'm On The Mic
19. Termanology - Watch How It Go Down
18. Blaq Poet - Band Dis
17. Little Brother - Life Of The Party
16. EMC - 4 Brothers
15. Ghostface feat Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good
14. Lone Catalyst - One's We Miss
13. J Dilla feat Common - So Far So Good
12. Jay Z - Lost Ones
11. A.Z. - The Format
10. J Dilla feat Pharaohe Monch - Love
9. Nas - The N
8. Oh No feat Pos - Smile A Bit
7. Obie Trice - They Wanna Know
6. Rhymefest - Dynomite
5. J Dilla feat Common - E=MC2
4. Cunninlynguists - Beautiful Girl
3. Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip - Can't Hold a Torch
2. Pete Rock Feat Grap Luva - Revenge
1. Royce Da 5' 9 - Ding!
The First Anual WYDU Panty Awards for 2006: These were voted on by all the contributors, so not just my own personal views (Polarity had a hand in writing some of these as well)
The WYDU 'Vanilla Flavored Panties Award' for blandest album of the year:
Nicolay "Here" - After scooping props for his collaboration album with Phonte of Little Brother (as Foreign Exchange) in 2004, Dutch producer Nicolay came back in 2006 with an instantly forgettable solo album. Apart from a couple decent songs, the majority of this short album consisted of innocuous r&b fluff. I don't have anything against r&b if it's done well, but most of this shnit had less flavor than Starbucks coffee.
The Nun Wearing Crotchless Panties Award (Most Ironic Song Title of the Year): "Hip Hop is Dead" by Nas (produced by Will.I.Am!) - Okay, the song itself wasn't too bad (even if it recycled "Thiefs Theme" more than a little bit) but the mere presence of Will.I.Am (founding member of the most insidious outfit in modern hip hop) on this track manages to finally claw this award away from the long-time title holder Craig Mack's "Making Moves With Puff".
Hot M.I.L.F in a Thong Award (Least Embarassing Comeback Album): Juggaknots "Use Your Confusion" - Some questionable production choices stopped this record from being as good as it should have been, but Breezly Brewin is still one of the most interesting lyricists around and his sister Queen Herawin is kinda dope too. Hopefully we don't have to wait another ten years for another instalment. Honorable Mention: Black Sheep -"8mw Novakane" & Camp Lo - "Fort Apache"
The Fat Chick In A Thong Award (Most Embarassing Comeback 
Album): Mobb Deep "Blood Money" - News of QB stalwarts Havoc & Prodigy signing with 50 Cents money making emporium raised more than a few eyebrows. The resultant album "Blood Money" was a trainwreck - too many 50 Cent appearances, too many recycled beats, and it's getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that Prodigy really doesn't sound like he wants to rap any more. Not only that, but the album went wood. Here's hoping that a similar fate is not in store for MOP.
The Hot Chick Wearing Granny Panties Award (Most Disappointing Album): Nas - "Hip Hop Is Dead" - Yes, it is in the top 20, but with a name like "Hip Hop Is Dead" and all the hype that preceeded the release, this album should have clearly been better than the handful of hot tracks it contained. And why on God's green earth was all the songs that weren't on the album ("The N", "Don't Body Yourself ", and "It Wasn't You" come to mind) better than 75% of the stuff that made the album? The fact it was still top 20 just points the medicore year that was 06'. Runner Up: AG - Get Dirty Radio....Everytime I think about this album I falzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........have a narolyptic seizure,
The Soiled Panites Award (The Worst Album): Blue Sky Black Death - "The Holocast" - I love declaring the worse album of the year because ultimaley it ends up being someones favorite album (I have seen this on at least one top 10 list this year) and panties get bunched and toes get stepped on . This album reminded me of a bad cartoon voice off of South Park, even the beats couldn't save it. Honorable Skid Marks go to: Dan The Automater Presents "2K7: The Tracks" & Saafir - "Good Game: The Transition"
The Girl Next Door In a Thong Award (The Suprisingly Good Album ): Busta Rhymes - "The Big Bang" - I hadn't even paid attention to a Busta album since the late 90's, yet when I gave this a listen for the first time, I was pleasantly suprised. Sure, there are still a couple syrupy radio jams on this, but all in all it's a real good album. Busta finally decided to come with something other than some Puffy produced crap. Now if he can just keep off the roids, things might be okay.
The Cute Chick In One Piece Award (Slept On Album ): Obie Trice - "2nd Rounds On Me". I
guess that it's uncool to like anything related with Eminem lately, but this was a very good. Even I slept on it somewhat. It's shows a more mature Obie covering many different topics. We are even spared a bunch of monotonous Eminem beats.
The Salma Hayek In A Thong Award (The Best Album of The Year): Ghostface - Fishscale. Based on the popular vote and the scientific "Panty Equation" Ghost wins the covevted "Salma Hayek In A Thong Award" for best album of the year. What else could you want in life?
Polarity's Recent Favorites
2006 was such a disappointing year in terms of quality full length records that I decided to write a little something on some other recent albums that are well hunting down if you don't own them already.
Polarity’s Choice:
Maspyke - Static (ABB 2005). The Springfield Mass. Trio of Tableek, H Bomb Boogie and producer Roddie Rod are one of the flyest groups to come out in the past few years. Moving from a failed tenure at Atlantic records to grinding it out on the underground scene, years of putting out tight singles and EP’s culminated in the excellent ‘Static’ album late last year. Roddy Rod is one of the best producers out right now, squeezing high level head-nod from the most unlikely of sources (like samples from cooking shows on ‘Recipe’ for example.) Lyrically, Tableek and especially H Bomb are the first rappers in a long while to have me reaching for the rewind button. Basically the whole package is high on replay value, a value missing from many recent releases and therefore something to be valued highly.
OC - Starchild (Grit, 2005). The reception that met Omar Credle’s 2001 third album Bon Appetit was nothing short of poisonous. The legions of fans O had accumulated on the strength of his two classic (if commercially overlooked) albums Word…Life and Jewelz simply couldn’t comprehend why the true school stalwart would adopt a pseudo-jiggy steez and join the crowd of new millennium ‘players’. I personally liked the album (can’t front on ‘Dr Know’!) but Starchild, was a comeback in all senses of the word. Produced mostly by Euro-beatsmiths such as Soul Supreme (who employs the sped-up soul sample shtick better than most), sample clearance complications meant Starchild was only ever officially released in a handful of countries like Japan and Australia. Don’t let the awful cover art put you off, this is well worth searching for. Smoke & Mirrors, also released last year was thematically similar in some ways to Bon Appetit, but definitely had its moments. Produced by Mike Loe (last heard from on Ill Biskits’ unreleased album), Smoke was overlong by about 6 tracks but was still one of the better releases of ’05.
Chris Lowe - The Black Life (Female Fun, 2004) & Dooley O - I Gotcha (Lewis, 2005). For those of you unfamiliar with the story, New Haven CT residents Dooley O and Chris Lowe were responsible for uncovering the classic ‘It’s a New Day’ drum break (or the Skull Snaps break as some people call it) back in 1990, only to have Dooley’s denim-shredding cousin Stezo snatch it up and use it on his ‘It’s My Turn’ joint. Dooley’s own album ‘Watch My Moves’ was shelved and for 15 years Chris and Dooley languished in obscure hip hop lore while the Skull Snaps break they found in a neighbours basement would be endlessly used on hundreds of classic rap tunes ('Sally Got a One Track Mind', 'Who Got The Props' and 'Take It Personal' to name a few).Anyway, after Solid Records finally released Dooley’s fine ‘Watch My Moves’ album in 2003 and the whole story came out, Chris and Dooley seemed to find a new lease on life, each dropping excellent solo albums in 2004 and 2005 respectively. ‘The Black Life’ and ‘I Gotcha’ are similar in that neither pander to obnoxious mainstream tastes, sticking with thick funk samples and clever wordplay. The antithesis of ‘hot shit’, both albums effortlessly capture the flavor of the early 90’s while still managing to remain current.
Soulclaps Lists
albums:
1. TI - King
2. Ghostface - Fishscale
3. AG - Get Dirty Radio
4. Kenn Starr - Starr Status
5. The Procussions - 5 Sparrows for 2 cents
6. Boot Camp Click - The Last Stand
7. Justin Timberlake - Futuresex/Lovesounds
8. Obie Trice - Secon Rounds on me
9. Busta Rhymes - Big Bang
10. Rhymefest - Blue Collar
Tracks
1. Procussions feat Talib Kweli - Miss January
2. Big Pooh, Phonte - Life ot the Party
3. Strange Fruit Project - You
4. J Dilla feat Blu & Jontell - Sun in my face
5. Ghostface Killah - Whip me with a strap
6. Busta Rhymes - Cocaina
7. The Roots - Can't stop this
8. Rhymefest - Bullet
9. Kenn Starr feat Oddisee - Nothing but time
10. Obie Trice - Obie's story
Disappointment:Method Man - 4:21
Dilated Peoples 20/20
Underrated:
T.I - King
Obie Trice - Second rounds on me
Brian's List
Most Deserving Re-Issue: Kool g rap & polo - Road to the Riches 2 disc
The did you release an album this year, oh i forgot award: Ice Cube
most slept on: Ag-dirty radio
top 10: ghostface
Roots
Lupe
Jay-z
Clispe
Game
Coup
TI
Busta
AZ
