TEK "Pricele$$" (Album Stream)

Representing Bed Stuy Brooklyn, Tekomin "TEK" Williams burst onto the hip-hop scene in 1993 on Black Moon's Enta Da Stage album. He has been a hip hop mainstay ever since. For nearly 30 years, TEK has delivered iconic albums and rocked crowds worldwide as one-half of the groundbreaking duo, Smif-N-Wessun. TEK continues to cement his star status in hip hop with his latest solo album, PRICELE$$. The album’s first single, The Illest, features TEK rocking a GQ Beats production and paying homage to the classic Notorious B.I.G. record, Unbelievable. Fresh off the success of his own album, Statik Selektah, delivers masterful scratches on the song’s hook. Conway the Machine joins forces with TEK on the album’s follow-up single, The Machine and TEK. The two trade gritty verses over a signature Daringer beat. Boot Camp Clik loyalists can look forward to Boot Camp 4 Life. The Don Notz produced song features a never before heard verse from Sean P, alongside TEK, General Steele, and Buckshot. From start to finish, PRICELE$$ is a gem for hip hop listeners from Bucktown and the world over. The album features production from the likes of GQ Beats, Joe Milly, Drawzilla, Daringer, Don Notz, Music Mystro, and Wavy Da Ghawd. Guest appearances on the album include Sheek Louch, Statik Selektah, Conway the Machine, AZ, Roc Marciano, Sean P, General Steele, Buckshot, Lil Fame, Rome Streetz, Dark Lo, Drawzilla, Mitchellel, and Trife Diesel. Listen to it below...

Cocoa Brovaz "The Rude Awakening" (Album Review, 1998)

When a cease and desist letter hits your mailbox from the gun company, Smith & Wesson, you stop calling yourself Smif-N-Wessun. So, Cocoa Brovaz it was, until they switched again to Tek and Steele. Today marks another anniversary of their second album, 'The Rude Awakening' on Duck Down/Priority. Tek and Steele (and Da Beatminerz) won us over with their debut 'Dah Shinin,' and continued with records like 'Bucktown USA,' 'Dry Snitch,' 'Black Trump,' 'Memorial' and 'Back 2 Life' on 'The Rude Awakening.' The album received favorable reviews and the one below gets to the heart of the project sharing, "Thoughtfully, Tek and Steele examine the positive sides of negative situations" when rhyming of "crooked contracts, deceased homies, and dead ends on this well-executed, 14-cut collection." Much respect to Da Beatminerz (Mr. Walt & Evil Dee) and the whole Duck Down family, who continue to support the culture and especially the sound of New York City. Read more below...

You Must Learn Episode 2: Smif-N-Wessun "Dah Shinin"

Released January 10, 1995, Dah Shinin is celebrated for the synergy between Smif N Wessun’s two members, Tek and Steele, and the cohesive, gritty production courtesy of Da Beatminerz. In 1998, The Source placed the album in its list of 100 Best Rap Albums. What you’re about to hear is Tek and Steele take us through the backstory and the making of their quintessential classic. They talk about: their relationships with Biggie and Tupac; going to high school with Maxwell and Sean Price; being inspired by the work of Roy Ayers, and what the Doghilee actually was. “You Must Learn” is produced by Peter Oasis and is written by Dharmic X; the podcast features contributions from DJ Flipout and Soul Khan. Special thanks Kelly Green. Listen below to Episode 2 of You Must Learn...