Eddie Ill & D.L. "Scenes Of The Underworld" (Mixtape, 1998)

When we talk about CLASSIC underground mixtapes, Eddie Ill & D.L. must be in the conversation. Always reppin' the best of independent, underground hip-hop, their double cassette tape release, "Scenes of the Underworld," has been championed since its release in 1998. The mix tape features cuts from Mr. Complex, Pumpkinhead, What? What? (Jean Grae), Basement Khemist, El Da Sensei, 7L & Esoteric, Brooklyn Academy, Choclair, Consequence, Saukrates, Craig G, Rasco, J-Treds, Medina Green, Lord Digga, Jigmastas, Thrust, High & Mighty, Lootpack, Missing Linx, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Dynasty, Ran Reed, Black Star, I.G. Off & Hazardous, Freddie Foxxx, Godfather Don, Screwball, B1, Company Flow, Masterminds and, somehow, even more! This takes me back to a time in NY that was very special to me. Dig in the archives for more... thanks to DC Avery for the updated audio below.

Eddie Ill & D.L. "A Trip Below" (Mixtape, 1998)

Eddie Ill & D.L. hit hard with their double-cassette mix tape release "A Trip Below" in 1998. Reppin' the underground; the subterraneous-independent scene with all its purity, this tape transports you back to a special time for me in NYC. The mix features freestyles and tracks from artists such as J-Live, Kwest Da Madd Ladd, N.O.T.S. Click & Big L, Skam & Eminem, Reflection Eternal, Mike Zoot, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mass Influence, Mr. Voodoo, Saukrates, Choclair, Scienz Of Life, Natural Elements, Mad Skillz, Poison Pen, Breez Evahflowin', Arsonists, Scientifik, Rawcotiks, Jemini Da Gifted One, Indelible MCs, Adagio, Juggaknots and EVEN more! It oesn't get much better than this... listen below.

Eddie Ill & Dr. Dekay "Beats for Insomniacs" (Mixtape, 1998)

Classic tape, DL Presents: Eddie Ill & Dr. Dekay 'Beats for Insomniacs.' Released in 1998, this classic indie mixtape features joints from artists such as Natural Elements, Royce Da 5'9 and Eminem as Bad Meets Evil, Black Star, Mr. Live, L-Swift, K-Bomb, L-Fudge, Organized Konfusion, Common, El Da Sensei, Pumpkinhead (R.I.P.), The Last Emperor and lots more from the same cloth of independent hip-hop. Update 2025: The original link I had included got taken down, so I found another link available through Soundcloud - I haven't listened but hopefully the quality is on par with the first if you're just stumbling on this page years later. Hit the tags for other mixes from Eddie Ill & Dr. Dekay, as well as so much more. Many would call this the Fat Beats Era... I'm not mad at that feeling.

Eddie Ill & D.L. "Time Has Come" (Mixtape, 1999)

I thought I'd already posted this, but a keyword search turned up nothing. Oh well! It's never too late to revisit this ill mixtape from '99 from Eddie Ill & D.L., Time Has Come. The double-cassette mix tape features Prince Po, Mr. Complex, Percee P, Planet Asia, Saukrates, Sound Providers, Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def, Jane Doe, Brooklyn Academy, Dead Poets Society, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Ed O.G., Supernatural, Phife, J-Treds, N.O.T.S. Click, The Last Emperor, Akrobatik, Defari, Moodswingaz, Declaime, Royal Flush and lots more! As always, follow the breadcrumbs! Updated audio links below...