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...

Smif-N-Wessun "Dah Shinin" (January 10, 1995)

A recent Atlantic Monthly article, "The Coming Anarchy," predicted the evolution of a starkly bipolar world populated by "haves" and "have-notes." Jousting on a planet of rapidly dwindling resources and mushrooming ethnic conflict, social mores and institutions collapse under the strain. Large classes of warlords and desperadoes emerge. The article's author would find much to buttress his thesis on Dah Shinin', the debut from Smif-N-Wessun, a shifty duo out of Brooklyn. On gritty, deceptively unadorned tracks like "Won Time" and "Next Shit," street conflict is "war" and the corner is the "battlefield." Timberland boots and camouflage fatigues are omnipresent. In the hypnotic, surreal world of "Tek" and "Steele," the duo function as self-styled "pioneers" who carve out a tenuous foothold in an unforgiving landscape. Smif-N-Wessun, along with Black Moon, Heltah Skeltah, and Originoo Gun Clappers, are aptly named "Boot Camp Clik." The duo ask their audience to take this union very seriously - and because their fraternity is so stylishly realized on wax, it's easy to oblige.

Smif-N-Wessun's vision is gripping; regardless of their big talk about "getting paper," money is secondary to the capers they perform to survive. They put it succinctly on the blood-curdling "Sound Bwoy Buriel": "All around New York / N!ggas be talkin' / But we be stalkin'." Dah Shinin builds on the summer success of the group's "Bucktown" single and adds up to a convincing collection of outlaw music. Sociologists may be disappointed by the lack of insight Smif-N-Wessun shed on how they ended up with such bleak prospects. But on "Wrek Time" they sum up with a simple, "I am what I am / I do what I do" chorus: It sounds like a pirate's drinking anthem. Inspired in part by the unforgettable Kubrick flick, Dah Shinin' hits the mark with a thematic impact that stuns with single-minded intensity. (Vibe, November, 1994). Hit up the archives for an anniversary mixtape; The Source album review and clap back; podcasts discussing the LP and more! Peace to the whole Duck Down.

A copy of the Vibe Review and more below...

Duck Down Newsletter (Summer, 1997)

Back in the day (mid/late-90s), Duck Down had its own printed Newsletter. This particular issue was announcing the release of Boot Camp Clik's For The People album on May 20, 1997. It shared the story of their album release party in Philadelphia at Club Gotham that featured Black Thought & Kurupt of the Dogg Pound, as well as news of their World Wide Tour, their single from the New Jersey Drive soundtrack (and Soul In The Hole); an interview highlight Louieville Sluggah, fan merchandise and Starang's verse from "Headz Ain't Ready." Duck Down has always had a great street team, a platform to go direct-to-fans, and incredible music. It's funny to see them plugging accounts for Hotmail, too lol. I've always been a fan of the independent zines and it's dope to have this newsletter to remind me of me that same vibe. I scanned the full newsletter, so you can read it/save copies. Too late for that merch though, lol. Here's a nice Boot Camp Clik playlist via Spotify.

In Memory Of... Sean Price (Playlist + NY Daily News, 2015)

Brooklyn Rapper Sean Price died in his sleep Saturday (August 8, 2015). The 43-year old hip-hop artist was a member of the rap super-groups Boot Camp Clik and Random Axe. Price got his start in the music world as part of the group Heltah Skeltah before rising in the underground hip hop community as a noted solo act.... "It is with beyond a heavy heart that Duck Down Music is sadly confirming that Sean Price passed away early this morning in his Brooklyn apartment," said a statement from his representatives. "Sean's family and friends are asking for time to grieve and process the news...." As a solo artist, Price released "Monkey Barz" in 2005 and "Jesus Price Supastar" in 2007. The lifelong Brownsville resident was featured in the video game "NBA 2K11" as a playable character in street mode. Price's latest album, "Mic Tyson," was released in 2012 and he was working on a mixtape, "Songs in the Key of Price" slated to be release by Duck Down Music on Aug. 21. "I"m going fishing Sunday at Sheepshead Bay I did it last week it was relaxing," he wrote on Twitter a day before his death. The MC's fellow lyricists took to social media to mourn the loss of the influential star. "Hip Hop has lost another great. RIP Sean P! #RealOne," The Roots' Black Thought tweeted. Others commended Price's tenacious spirit. "RIP to Sean Price one of the illest to ever do it. 1/2 of Heltah Skeltah aka Ruck. He was always a good brother to us and down to build," the Bronx-based rap group Rebel Diaz wrote. "Sean Price went from being a childhood hero of mine to a great friend. He was the most competitive MC I've ever met and kept me on my game," rapper Talib Kweli wrote. Price is survived by his wife and three children, according to his representatives. - New York Daily News (August 9, 2015). Rest In Peace, Sean P!, who passed away 5 years ago today. To continue to celebrate the Brooklyn barbarian, below is a playlist with 50+ tracks, dig into it...

Original cover story in the NY Daily News (August 9, 2015). R.I.P. Sean P!

Heltah Skeltah "Nocturnal" (June 18, 1996)

"In 1993 a little-known group called Black Moon released an album that would become an underground classic, Enta Da Stage. Thus was born the Bootcamp Clik and their distinct brand of sonic mayhem: quirky, Caribbean-influenced lyrical phrasing atop deep, moody tracks. Black Moon's offering was soon followed by Smif-N-Wessun's equally compelling Dah Shinin'. Now Bootcamp's third edition, Heltah Skeltah, release their own opus, Nocturnal. As former members of the Decepticons (a Brooklyn-based gang that terrorized NYC high schools in the late '80s), Ruck and Rock - Heltah Skeltah's twin cannons - could be expected to do the obvious: rehash how many broken bodies they've left in their wake. Uhhh-uhhh. Nocturnal's menace doesn't come from self-propaganda. Heltah Skeltah derive their edge from the dynamic vocal presence delivered by Rock's low-pitched growls and Ruck's irrationally tinged mutterings; dark, gritty production; and the duo's creative song structuring, as on "Therapy," a scintillating bit of back-and-forth wordplay which has Ruck playing the gruff psychiatrist to Rock's tormented patient, and "Sean Price," where Ruck appropriates Super Cat's haunting lament from "I'm Not Sure Anymore" to chilling effect. Nocturnal never takes the hard-edged vibe over the line. The two MCs possess a dry sense of humor that gives the album a multidimensional feel." - Spin Magazine, 8/96 // The full review is below... Rest In Peace, Sean P!

DV One x Hex Murda "Sean Price: Immortal" (Mix)

DV One from the Rock Steady Crew and Detroit's inimitable Hex Murda have created this dedication mix entitled Immortal for their mutual friend and beloved eMCee Sean Price who passed in 2015. Immortal is an hour-long mix of some Ruck classics, soundbites, and lots of drops from his family and peers. In the words of Rakaa, "Sean Price is a true inspiration because he kept getting better and better while carving out his own lane through this jungle. The animals and trees were no match. Hip Hop is now a little bit less fun, and we'll all need to pitch in to supplement the level of realness that he blessed the scene with. Incredible artist and person, so I have no doubt that his soul is at peace. It's just surreal. Strength and prayers to his family." Rest In Peace, Sean P aka You the worst aka the opposite of a fucking Duran Duran song. Listen to the mix below or click HERE to download. 

Sean Price x Lil Fame "Price Of Fame" (Album Stream)

Sean Price & Lil Fame join forces for 'The Price of Fame' album on Duck Down Records. The 11-track project features M.O.P., Smif N Wessun, Rock of Heltah Skeltah, Conway The Machine, Illa Gee, and Guilty Simpson. The album is entirely produced by Lil Fame of M.O.P., and contains all unreleased Sean Price verses! Rest In Peace, Sean Price, one of the best lyricists to ever pick up a microphone. Don't sleep on Fizzy Womack's production neither, salute Lil Fame! You can listen to the LP below...

Black Moon "Rise Of Da Moon" (Album Stream)

Black Moon returns with Rise of Da Moon. The 15-track album features Method Man, Smif N Wessun, and Rock of Heltah Skeltah. The project is entirely produced by Da Beatminerz. The CD is a custom digipak with a die-cut silhouette of Buckshot, 5FT & Evil Dee, with a 9.5" x 28" poster and 8-page booklet with exclusive photos from the recording sessions. The Dewgarde brothers, Evil Dee and Mr. Walt, deliver on the thick production, and as a whole, Black Moon remains true to their original Bucktown roots and backpack aesthetic. Method Man's guest verse on "Ease Back" is a definite show-stopper, make sure you check that out! You can stream Rise Of Da Moon below.

Book Of Rhymes Podcast: Smif-N-Wessun (Episode 2)

Book of Rhymes is a brand new podcast, hosted by Donwill of Tanya Morgan and executive produced by Classic Material and Mika. After a successful pilot episode with Black Moon, the Book of Rhymes podcast is back and keep it in the Duck Down family with "the POWER MASTERS aka da original gun clappers aka SMIF N WESSUN aka Tek & Steele. Listen as we take a deep dive into their classic album 'Dah Shinin', growing up in Brooklyn and their new project, 'The All' and so much more." 

Book Of Rhymes Podcast: Black Moon (Episode 1)

Book of Rhymes is a brand new podcast, hosted by Donwill of Tanya Morgan and executive produced by Classic Material and Mika. For their debut episode, the Book of Rhymes podcast sits down with the legendary hip-hop crew, Black Moon. Helping to define the sound of Hip-Hop - especially in New York City - during the Golden Era, they discuss their early singles; their debut album "Enta Da Stage" with Nervous Records, as well as Duck Down Records and their overall impact on music culture. Peace to Evil Dee, Buckshot, 5ft MC, and of course the OG, Mr. Walt, and Dru-Ha. 

Boot Camp Clik "The Basement Cypher" (Rap City, 2003)

Here's some throwback footage of the Boot Camp Clik at BET in the Basement for the Rap City cypher. With DeeJay Logic on the 1s and 2s, Big Tigger sets it off (as per usual), then we got the Boot Camp Clik's O.G.C., Sean Price, Bucskhot, and General Steele droppin' bars. Sean Price uses this verse on "60 Bar Dash" off Donkey Sean Jr, where he says "Pootie Tang n!@@as always got a lot to say / Ain't talking 'bout shit though, sa-da-tay / Classical soul, I got the nastiest flow / Sean Price, big gun by the grassiest knoll / Can't see me coming, like I was fucking a blind b!tch / Grabbing the radio and then commence to rewind this / Leave it alone, or you can bleed from the dome..." This clip was recently reposted to the official Duck Down YouTube page, I think it was originally from around '03. Rest In Peace, Sean Price and salute the whole Duck Down Records family. Watch below...

Smif-N-Wessun "The All" (Album Stream)

Smif-N-Wessun, the duo of Tek & Steele, return with their 7th studio album, ‘The All,’ entirely produced by 9th Wonder & The Soul Council. Known for their hardcore lyrical content, The PNC Boyz represent their Brooklyn roots going bar-for-bar offering deep jewels of knowledge and wisdom. The All features guest appearances from Raekwon, Rick Ross, Musiq Soulchild, Rapsody, GQ, Heather Victoria and more. The 9th Wonder x Boot Camp Clik projects are always solid, listen below...

Sean Price x Small Professor "86 Witness" (Album Stream)

Several years in the making, the highly anticipated collaborative project from the late Sean Price (Rest In Peace) and producer Small Professor, '86 Witness,’ is here. The album features Rock of Heltah Skeltah, Guilty Simpson, Your Old Droog, AG Da Coroner, Illa Ghee, Reef the Lost Cauze, Curly Castro, Zilla Rocca, Rob Kelly, Quelle Chris, Elucid, Castle, and scratches by DJ Revolution throughout. Man, Hip-Hop as a whole misses the presence of Sean Price. R.I.P. Listen to it below...

Sean Price "Jesus Price Supastar" (January 30, 2007)

Sean Price has always rapped with a hard-edged whimsy. He's earned a dual fan base of backpackers and indie kids like fellow East Coast old-heads Ghostface and MF Doom, but despite name-dropping Malachi York, Tony Atlas, and Hotel Rwanda on his second official solo album, he's never been quite weird enough to curry as much favor with the avant-garde. Instead, with an effortless delivery and mastery of negative space, the artist once known as Ruck of Heltah Skeltah spends most of Supastar boasting about "f#cking people up" and lamenting the idea that he's "the brokest rapper you know." As Sean P pledges, "All praises due to the rhyme," over revving motorcycle synths and an interpolation of Gap Band's 1979 "I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up and Dance (Oops, Upside Your Head)," his altar runs red not only from blood of sucker MCs, but also from his sacrifice of song topicality. This is traditionalist boom-bap, mainly scored by North Carolina sample-choppers 9th Wonder and Khrysis. Guests like Little Brother's Phonte, Buckshot, and Sadat X nestle in comfortably. But when Price makes it all about himself--like on the breezy, guitar-loaded "Mess You Made"--complaints about "not having a hit since '96" and "making sure Elijah ain't bummy in school" prove that, despite appearances, Price has a vision beyond aggro one-liners. - Vibe (2/07).

The Jesus Price Supastar review in Vibe Magazine is below...

Statik Selektah "8" (Album Stream)

8 is the eighth studio album from producer Statik Selektah. The album was released via Duck Down Music and Statik's label Showoff Records. The album features guest appearances from vocal artists, such as 2 Chainz, Action Bronson, Joey Badass, Termanology, Run The Jewels, The L.O.X., Wale, Royce da 5'9", Joyner Lucas, Raekwon, Mtume, Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Sean Price and G-Eazy. Statik is one of the most consistent, most prolific producers of our generation. Listen below...

Sean Price "Imperius Rex" (Album Stream)

The Sean Price legacy continues with the highly anticipated posthumous release of his 4th studio album, “Imperius Rex”. The CD is housed inside an 84-page hard cover book packaged with rare photos spanning Sean Price’s life; exclusive fan art; and an iconic 11x17 poster featuring the album cover art. The project features all new music with features from DOOM, Prodigy, Styles P, Smif N Wessun, Rock, Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Junior Reid, Buckshot, Ruste Juxx, Bernadette Price & more. Production from Alchemist, Harry Fraud, Nottz, amongst others.

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...

Black Moon "Behind The Moon" (DVD, 2004)

One of Brooklyn's finest underground rap crews, Black Moon, offer a look inside its music and the lives of its group members, both at home and on the road, in this home video. Black Moon: Behind the Moon (originally released in June, 2004) features group members Buckshot, 5FT, and Evil Dee giving a tour of their neighborhood, working in their home studio, visiting radio stations during a promotional tour for the album Total Eclipse, and sharing the stage with the likes of Sean Price, Starang Wondah, and Cocoa Brovaz during their furious live show. Salute to Duck Down Records.

Sean Price "Songs In The Key Of Price" (Mixtape)

This is the first posthumous release of Sean Price. The plan was to release the mixtape on August 21st, 2015. He passed away on August 8th, 2015 but the mixtape was still released as planned. The iTunes release only has 8 songs but the digital download as well as the physical CD from Duck Down contains 30 songs. The title is a play on Stevie Wonder’s 1976 Motown classic Songs in the the Key of Life. The original artwork (not featured above) also mirrored Stevie Wonder’s classic. #riP!

Keychain bottle opener (promo) from Sean P.  - R.I.P.

Dru-Ha Pens a Letter For Sean Price (R.I.P.)

Following the sudden and tragic loss of Sean Price a few weeks ago, Dru gathered his thoughts and wrote an extensive letter to and about his friend: "We go so far back, I remember he had his fun with the beepers too. In a late night nocturnal studio session at D&D he would sneak off and page my beeper with a popular rappers number and watch me call them back. Some how I’d end up on a call with the likes of a Jeru the Damaja, asking him what he wants, and him asking the same of me; both equally confused on how we connected, Sean in the studio cracking up. The practical jokes at my expense didn’t end there, and I adored them. They were personalized and imaginative. He never made you feel bullied or humiliated (unless you had fur on your shoes) it was always something we could laugh at together after the pranks unfolded. In early Heltah Skeltah interviews, when he became predictably bored with the questions, and I had still had a flickering rap career from my verse on Black Moon’s “U Da Man”, straight faced, he told various reporters that I was recording an album with Bon Jovi. Later when I stopped traveling on the road with Sean, whenever he found himself in Baltimore he would tell the audience in the middle of his set that I wasn’t there because I watched the Wire and I was too scared. In present internet days, there’d be times with no warning, where he might go on a twitter rampage encouraging people to send me their demos and beats. My timeline and email would fill up. That was Sean with his mischievous and appropriately inappropriate sense of humor. He made us laugh till Tek had water in his eyes and all of our stomachs hurt… But at the heart, he played for one team throughout his career. He declared “I’m Boot Camp 4 Life” and no matter how turbulent times could become, he never waivered. He knew that his BCC kin loved him unconditionally, accepted his irrational ways, and most importantly that they could rhyme on his playing field. He always insisted that Rock was the better MC in Da Incredible Rap team of Heltah Skeltah, and told me on more than one occasion that coming up through the game, Steele was his favorite MC. Buck was a mentor and trusted confidant. We never had to ask, he proudly wore the Duck Down uniform, hats, shirts, hoodies, jackets, whatever, he carried our flag with him. Most importantly it seemed to him, he represented for Brooklyn..." r.i.P.