Killa Sha "Built To Last" (Mix)

Another tribute mix from the Built to Last crew out in France... this time they pay respects to the late great Queensbridge MC, Killa Sha. I've already told the story of how Killa Sha and I first met, how he gifted me a sealed copy of his "Phenomenon" 12" from when he was in the group the Killa Kidz (1996), and how I feel we tragically lost a great talent with his passing. Surely I've posted several projects over the years, shared some back story and all that, but it's nice to continue to keep Sha in our memories and I give thanks to the Built To Last Crew for doing it proper with their mix below. Rest In Peace, Killa Sha. Click HERE for their countless tribute mixes and hit the tags, too.

Lugz Promo Commercials (1999-2001)

Lugz first made a name for itself in October of 1993, bringing its first line of boots to market, with the initial product consisting of two styles of boots, a quilted vest and a pair of jeans. Soon Lugz was endorsed by key players from the world of hip hop and continued to do so through out the years. One such collaboration led Lugz to breathe life to a whole new category of footwear with the introduction of the first ever celebrity-endorsed “Funk Master Flex” urban driving shoe. This was only the beginning as support then lead to a collaborative line with hip-hop superstar Bryan “Baby” Williams, aka “Birdman” with his own series of sneakers and boots. Seen as a money-grab throughout the industry, these collaborations looked funny in the light. Before that, however, there were numerous advertisements and collaborative commercials between hip-hop artists and Lugz. Some spots ran between around 1999-2001, and included artists like 50 Cent, De La Soul, Erick Sermon, Pharoahe Monch, KRS-One and Rahzel, among others. Pharoahe Monch rewriting "Simon Says" for Lugz always hurt my feelings, but I understood the business, lol. You can revisit those specific tracks below, but please don't take it too seriously, lol. Hopefully it doesn't get taken down.

Wojavelli "The Best Of Alchemist" (Mixtape)

The Best of Alchemist mixtape features roughly two and a half hours of the best of Alc's first 10 years of hits, deep cuts and original blends by Wojavelli out in Philly. The Alchemist's extensive catalog is represented with cuts featuring Mobb Deep, Cormega, Nas, Capone-N-Noreaga, Jadakiss, Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah, and lots more. Need I say more? Dig into Wojavelli's ALC mix below...

Wu-Tang Clan "Rewind: The Tape Deck 2010-2019" (Mix, 2019)

Another exclusive compilation-mix from HHIR: this one paying tribute to the Wu-Tang Clan (2010-2019). You'll hear group tracks, as well as feature verses and solo joints from all the crew members including Cappadonna, GZA, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, U-God, Sun God, RZA, Raekwon, Killah Priest, and more. R.I.P. Ol' Dirty Bastard. Rewind The Tape and look back over some of HHIR's favorite joints from the last 10 years of the Wu Tang Clan. Dig in...

DJ Platurn "The Best of Redman" (Mixtape)

When lockdown began back in March (2020), a gentleman I barely knew (DJ Trex) in my facebook network sent me an email with a request. He wanted to see if i'd be willing to make a mix for him in the vein of the homage mixes I've done in the past (Native Tongues, Outkast, etc) but for his favorite MC of all time, Redman. He explained to me that he is a nurse working on the frontlines of the covid pandemic and proclaimed he always wanted something like this in his possession and now would be the time to make it happen, especially with the future being so uncertain. Lump in my throat for real so I agreed without hesitation. We swiftly made a connection and have become friends over the last few months, checking in to see what the progress looks like on each of our ends. I took the project very seriously and am truly happy to present this to the world, on his behalf of course. My 1st major project during these unprecedented times. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it. - DJ Platurn // If you've heard any (or all) of DJ Platurn's past mixes, then you know what it is! I've had to update the link for this mixtape at least two times, hopefully the link below stays active and you can order cassette copies, too, now - via Strictly Cassette. Hit it...

Happy (Belated) Birthday, RZA! (Playlist)

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (born July 5, 1969), better known by his stage name RZA, is a rapper, producer, actor, filmmaker, and author. He is also the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, known as (The) Abbott. He has produced almost all of the Wu-Tang Clan's albums, as well as many Wu-Tang solo and Wu-affiliated projects. RZA is cousin to two other original Wu-Tang Clan members: GZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard (R.I.P.). And... Yes... I was Team Premo in his battle with DJ Premier, but I wannabe clear that I recognize the depth and seriousness of his catalog. When you really look at the number of albums RZA's produced - how many CLASSIC albums he's produced! - his run is truly mind-boggling! Joints with GZA, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Gravediggaz, Cappadonna, Inspectah Deck, etc + solo, group records and outside production! That led me here... to narrowing down a playlist of roughly 30-40 tracks (and I gave myself 10 minutes to do it), which includes some of my all-time favorite joints from RZA. It wasn't as easy as I thought, lol. The playlist is below... I might add 10 more tracks to it every so often just so it's not stagnant and represents how my taste in music can change over time. So... all that said, a very Happy (belated) Birthday to the RZA, who was born on July 5, 1969. What are your favorite RZA tracks? Update: I realized that the comments have been turned off... whoops! I've fixed it now - maybe it's too late, but feel free to comment below any posts. Oh, and correct me if I mis-credited any of the tracks below to RZA.

And, why not add some randomness... HBD, RZA!

Happy Born Day, Royce Da 5'9! (Playlist)

Happy Born Day to Detroit eMCee Royce Da 5'9. Respected for his lyricism and more recently for the depth of his narratives and OG perspectives, Royce is easily one of your favorite rapper's favorite rappers. Surely many fans were first introduced to his music through Eminem - I remember hearing him on Eclipse's Halftime Show - but he's always been an artist who stood on his own two, and for me, it was the track "King of Kings" that captured my attention. I remember the day I heard it... the sample "I wake up and I don't know where I am" related to a personal experience I'd had, and that made the record stand out more to me, aside from him killin' it. While Royce and I have never met, we have exchanged a couple messages (texts, emails) over the years, and he's always struck me as a very loyal and humble dude. In my opinion, he's released some of his best music in the last few years - from the song "Tabernacle" on Layers, to PRhyme; the Book of Ryan, and most recently, The Allegory... his music has been an integral part of pushing the culture forward and making sure that our legends grow in their music and offer new perspectives. Below is a playlist of some of my favorite Royce records... it's not a "best of" or a comprehensive playlist by any means - it's just my favorites, which I hope you'll enjoy, too. I hope to meet Royce face-to-face one day, so I can tell him how I appreciate his contributions and that his music definitely inspires me. Salute!

Happy Born Day, Supastition! (Playlist)

Happy birthday to my dear friend and one of the most talented, genuine, and honest people I know, Supastition! I'm very proud of all the work that we've done together - multiple albums, EPs, shows, etc. When Supa drops, fans know they are gonna be treated to elite lyricism, hard-hitting production and messaging that reflects what he's going through, and who he is as a man at that time. There's no wavering in that and no dumbing-down. His latest EP, Sacrifice, speaks to that perfectly, and it's why fans and his peers alike gravitate towards him as a blue-collar MC making grown-up rap. To celebrate his born day, I put together a quick playlist of tracks that stay in constant rotation for me. Naturally, as Supa's manager, I have access to a ton of other records that aren't available yet, but this playlist should represent fairly well as-is. As more music is released, I'll go back and update this playlist. The past couple years have had many trials and tribulations, and in those times, he's shown that he is a one-of-a-kind artist and person ... I salute him for that. To me, his character is bulletproof! Happy Born Day, Supa! Listen below and ... let it bang in your boombox!

Happy Born Day, Jadakiss! (Playlist)

“I don’t compromise; straight bars and no cutting corners,” says Jada. “I’m painting pictures that make you feel like you’re there. Real life realities brought to you in music where I make you feel like you were there when you listen to me.” One to be reckoned with for over two decades, his ability to mature with the times and maintain his integrity has been Jadakiss’ key to becoming one of Hip Hop’s greats. “Those who make a career out of it are the ones you should stick and gravitate to,” he says. “I’m defiantly one of those and should be here for a long fucking time.” Well said and reflective of the career he's made since entering the game with a feature on Main Source's "Set It Off," and the early group demos as the Bomb Squad and The Warlocks as "Big Jay." Jadakiss remains one of the most skilled emcees still in the game... his flow and raspy voice put him near the top of the list. To celebrate his birthday today, I made a quick playlist of tracks - 30 in total - to give a brief overview of some of my favorites from his extensive catalog. It's unfortunate that D-Block's mixtape run can't be properly reflected on most streaming platforms, but for those that were there, it was one of the best and most impactful for music coming out of New York (along with G-Unit and Dipset). If you disagree, go ahead and knock yourself out! Happy 45th Birthday, Raspy! 

Happy Born Day, Elzhi! (Playlist)

Happy Born Day to eLZhi, one of the greatest lyricists PERIOD! The bio on his website shares, "Before the world ever heard the name Elzhi, the young artist was sitting in the back of classrooms thinking of rhymes and spitting verses, while his friend Fes banged out beats on lunchroom tables and battled rival emcees on the blacktop after school. He sharpened every blade in his arsenal, developing his style to measure up against the competition in Maurice Maloneis Hip Hop Shop, the legendary proving ground for Detroit Artists that has produced some of the greatest emcees in the world. Elzhi spent years paying dues, writing songs, entering battles, and recording demos until he made his international debut on Come and Get It, a standout track from J Dilla’s album, Welcome 2 Detroit.  The critically acclaimed song drew massive attention to the mysterious artist, and made his EP, Out of Focus, highly sought after.  Following that, he released the critically acclaimed Elmatic as a tribute to Nas as well as to Elzhi’s hometown of Detroit." To celebrate his birthday today, I put together a quick playlist of tracks - mostly solo records with a few features mixed in. It is by no means a reflection of his full discography - in fact, it barely scratches the surface, but these do represent some of my favorite Elzhi cuts nonetheless. From his early "Out of Focus" EP to today, eLZhi remains one of our culture's most gifted lyricists, poets and MCs. Be sure to reach out HERE and wish him a Happy Born Day! The art above is by Aleks Skrok, you can order a poster HERE.

Happy Born Day, Common! (Best of Mixtape)

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (formerly Common Sense), is a hip hop recording artist, actor, poet and film producer from Chicago, Illinois. Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar? and maintained a significant underground following into the late 1990s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians. Over the years, Common has released music under various other labels such as Relativity, Geffen and GOOD Music, among others, and classic albums in Resurrection, One Day It'll All Make Sense, Like Water For Chocolate, Be, Finding Forever, and more! In celebration of Common's birthday today, this is a Common "Best Of" mix that features Fat Joe, Q-Tip, Erika Badu, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, No I.D., Ghostface, J Dilla, Guru, Royce 5'9, Brand Nubian, Mary J Blige, The Roots and more. Happy Born Day, Common; a shining example of a classic Hip-Hop artist!

Why "The Wire" Is SO Brilliant (Video)

I regret that I haven't done a better job representing the great television shows and movies I've been watching over the years. I try to make it a point to share info about documentaries and videos that impact the culture, but for some reason, it never occurred to me to talk more about television and movies. And truth be told, I watch a lot of stuff that deserves a place on this site. Maybe it's my OCD and the idea of putting as much energy into films/TV as I do music might be a bit overwhelming. So, for now I'm just gonna say that from time to time, I'll make it a point to highlight more content. By now, I am sure everyone has seen the classic show based in Baltimore called The Wire. Every now and again I revisit The Wire, and each time I learn something new and appreciate more of what David Simon was trying to convey in the different episodes. Man was that a layered show. Arguably one of the best and most well-executed shows of our generation. That said, nothing new to share here, just a reminder that even if you've seen The Wire, you should revisit it from time to time! It's an experience worth its replay value. The video below says it better than I would, so check it out below. Who do you think is the best character from The Wire? DM me.

Happy Born Day, Beanie Sigel! (Playlist)

Dwight Equan Grant (born March 6, 1974), better known by his stage name Beanie Sigel, is an MC and actor from South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He first became known for his association with Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records, releasing his debut studio album The Truth through Roc-A-Fella in February 2000 to critical and commercial success. Sigel's second studio album, The Reason, saw similar commercial success, but received mixed reviews from critics. His third - and my favorite of his albums, The B. Coming, was critically acclaimed and peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200. After a short break from music, Sigel returned to Roc-A-Fella in 2007 and released his fourth studio album The Solution in December 2007. After leaving Roc-A-Fella once again, Sigel's fifth and sixth studio albums, The Broad Street Bully and This Time were released independently in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Sigel had numerous legal issues throughout his career, including a trial for attempted murder that took place between 2004 and 2005, and eventually lead to Sigel's acquittal. On March 30, 2012, Sigel told Statik Selektah on Shade 45 that he would be working on a collaborative album with southern veteran, and long-time friend, Scarface titled Mac and Brad. Scarface also tweeted the announcement at the same time... and I WANT that album! On his born day today, I'm gonna attempt to put together several tracks into a playlist that represents the best of his catalog... to me. Let me know how I do and if you see Beans or Face, tell them I want that Mac and Brad album!

Prodigy "Rewind: The Tape Deck 2010-2019" (Mixtape, 2019)

Rest In Peace, Prodigy ... still in our memories. A few months back, Hip-Hop Is Read put together this compilation mix in tribute of Prodigy's contributions between 2010-2019. To close out the decade, we look back all these records and verses from Prodigy; tracks that also feature The Alchemist, Roc Marciano, Mobb Deep, Nas, Durag Dynasty, Slim The Mobster, Mac Miller, Vado, 50 Cent, Styles P, M.O.P., Statik Selektah, Your Old Droog, and more. Artwork by Weird Art Society and John Bernhardt. Props to HHIR, holding it down since 2007. Dig into their fresh Prodigy mix below...

Andre 3000 "Rewind: The Tape Deck 2010-2019" (Mixtape, 2019)

Since 2007, Hip-Hop Is Read has curated numerous compilations and mixes with artists' music, samples and so-forth. End of last year, they released a handful of decade wrap-ups including Nas, Your Old Droog, Prodigy; and this one is Andre 3000 of OutKast. One of the nicest and most innovative artists in our culture, it's nice to Rewind the Tape Deck with this mix of tracks from 2010-2019. You'll hear tracks with Beyonce, GoldLink, Future, Ciara, Ludacris, T.I., Chris Brown, Drake, Kanye West, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Lloyd, Lil Wayne, James Blake, Gorillaz, Ke$ha, B.o.B., Young Jeezy, Frank Ocean, Anderson .Paak, Big Boi and more. I'll be honest, many of these songs cross too far over, but I still respect his ingenuity and what he brings to every track he touches. Dig into it...

Happy Born Day, Cam'ron! (Playlist)

Before Cameron Giles became Cam'ron the rapper, he made a name for himself on the basketball courts. After high school, Cam was offered scholarships from everywhere including North Carolina, Syracuse, Duke, Florida and Southern California. Unfortunately, his academics prevented him from attending a Division 1 program and he enrolled himself into a small college in Texas. Unsatisfied, Cam soon found himself back in his old famed Harlem neighborhood, hustling on the streets. Then he turned to the microphone and dropped freestyles on some of New York's legendary mix tapes with his fellow Manhattan Center High School basketball teammate, Mase. Along with Bloodshed (who later passed away), "Killa Cam" and "Murder Mase" (as they were known back then) formed Children Of The Corn. Then destiny ran its course: Mase introduced Cam to the late Notorious B.I.G.: Cam rhymed for B.I.G.; B.I.G. called his partner Lance "Un" Rivera; Un signed Cam. The rest is history. Celebrating his Born Day today, I put together a quick playlist of tracks that run through Cam's catalog and showcase some of my personal favorites. From solo work to feature verses and songs with the Dipset/Diplomats family and even Children Of The Corn, I pulled from all of it. Cam is an extremely witty and colorful artist with an effortless flow, and hopefully this playlist shows his true range as an artist. Following in the footsteps of Dame Dash, he's also one of the most savvy business-artists. Anyhow, much respect to Killa Cam, dig into the playlist below and Happy Born Day!

Nas "Rewind: The Tape Deck 2010-2019" (Mix)

Hip-Hop Is Read, one of the original quality blogs since 2007, put together this compilation mix of Nas tracks from 2010-2019. Putting a bow on the decade, HHIR touched on tracks that feature Swizz Beatz, Beastie Boys, Common, Large Professor, Capone-N-Noreaga, Mobb Deep, Wale, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Damian Marley, Gil Scott-Heron, Kanye West, French Montana, Scarface, DJ Premier, Amy Winehouse, Salaam Remi, and more. Rewind it back, 2010-2019...

Happy Born Day, 9th Wonder! (Playlist)

Today, January 15, hip-hop producer, executive and DJ, 9th Wonder, celebrates his born day. Born Patrick Denard Douthit in North Carolina, 9th Wonder started out in the game as the beat-producing member of the group Little Brother, alongside MCs Phonte and Big Pooh. In 2003, he really hit the big time when he remixed, and released, an unofficial version of Nas' "God's Son." Now, with eight solo LPs and more collaborative mixtapes and albums than one can count, 9th Wonder has had a tremendous impact on hip-hop music from the mainstream to the underground. Aside from working closely with lyricists such as Talib Kweli and Murs, 9th has cranked out memorable tracks for everyone from Jay-Z ("Threat" from the Black Album) to Destiny's Child ("Game Over" and "Girl") to Kendrick Lamar ("Duckworth." from DAMN.) In addition to his contributions within the music industry, he has also worked on films and video games, teaches classes that examine songs from the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements and has been the subject of a documentary. 9th also formed the record label, Jamla in 2010, and has since helped nurture the career of Grammy-nominated rapper, Rapsody. Most recently, the "Making a Murderer" producer collaborated with member of The Roots, Black Thought, on the widely-acclaimed EP, Streams of Thought Vol. 1, which serves as the Philly MC's debut project and made its way onto XXL's list of the best hip-hop projects of 2018. Happy Birthday, 9th Wonder! - XXL. The Spotify playlist below celebrates 9th art!

Happy Born Day, Just Blaze! (Playlist)

Just Blaze is a Grammy Award winning producer who first made his name in the early 2000s, working alongside Jay Z to produce classic tracks such as "Girls, Girls, Girls," "Song Cry," and more. He also worked with other Roc-A-Fella artists, providing his heavily sample-based production to artists like Cam'ron, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and Juelz Santana - among others - playing a major part in shaping NYC's hip-hop sound for that era. He won a Grammy in 2011 for his production on Eminem's Recovery album, and while I don't dig into mainstream music all too often, Just's production is undeniable! His later work with Saigon, Jay Electronica, Fabolous, The Game, and even his co-production with The Audible Doctor, reworking the beat for Joell Ortiz's "Battle Cry," are all incredible pieces of music. To celebrate his Born Day today, I put together a quick playlist that covers some of my favorite cuts in his catalog. Dig into it below and trust, he's one of the most knowledgable artists in the music industry. Gadgets, samples, and the inner-workings of the business, he's a step above the rest. Once again, Happy Born Day to Just Blaze. Give him his flowers!

Little Brother "The Story Behind: The Listening" (Documentary)

Starting in a college dorm room by a group of North Carolina Central students in 2001, the Justus League collective and offshoot trio Little Brother defined the sound of Durham hip-hop for years to come, constructing a style altogether distinct from everything to the north and south. This level of innovation turned heads with some of hip-hop’s biggest names, and the members of Little Brother (9th Wonder, Big Pooh and Phonte) have gone on to work with superstars like Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre and Questlove, who appears in the documentary. Through the use of extensive interviews with the group and never before seen archival footage, The Listening chronicles a key moment in Little Brother’s past and present: the creation of their first album. This is an important album, and I'm glad we get to hear the stories behind it and more. Tune in below...