Mister Cee "Hip Hop According to Cee: Lesson One" (Mixtape, 1996)

This is 1996's Hip Hop According To Cee: Lesson One from Mister Cee via Tape Kingz. The mix tape includes joints in heavy rotation at the time from The Fugees, Busta Rhymes, KRS-One, MC Lyte, De La Soul, Capone-N-Noreaga, Lost Boyz, Frankie Cutlass, Dr. Dre, Nas, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Heltah Skeltah, Queen Latifah, Originoo Gun Clappaz, Onyx, Jeru The Damaja, Big Noyd, Mobb Deep, Mic Geronimo, Keith Murray, Da Bush Babees, Lil' Kim, and more! Hot 97's Mister Cee put out a bunch of solid tapes in the 90s (including three more in this series), lots of incredible tribute mixes that still stay in the deck, and more... so revisit a cassette rip of his Lesson One mixtape below...

Mister Cee "Hittin' Ya In Da Head" (Mixtape, 1996)

This is Mister Cee's Hittin' Ya In Da Head in 1996 on Tape Kingz. The mix tape kicks off with an exclusive freestyle from Common and continues with records featuring Lords of the Underground & Keith Murray, Mystidious Misfits, King Just, Raekwon, Heltah Skeltah, 8off, Mobb Deep, Miilkbone, Mad Skillz, Cella Dwellas, Masta Ace, Guru & Bahamadia, Kool G Rap & Nas, Sadat X, Smif-N-Wessun, Grand Puba, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Special Ed, GZA, Shabazz The Disciple, Onyx, Lost Boyz, Blackstract and more. I gave this tape a lot of run back in the 90s, tons of replay value. Props to DJ Step One.

"5 Deadly Venoms of Brooklyn" (Mixtape, 1997)

The 5 Deadly Venoms of Brooklyn is a mixtape created by five classic New York City DJs: P.F. Cuttin, Mister Cee, Tony Touch, DJ Premier and DJ Evil Dee. The mixtape was recorded in 1997 and released by Tape Kingz on cassette tape. The name of the album is a reference to a well-known Kung-Fu movie, "Five Deadly Venoms." The mixtape consists of tracks from Breez Evahflowin, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Mobb Deep, Q-Tip, Shadez Of Brooklyn, Ak Skills, The Notorious B.I.G., Sunz Of Man, Jeru The Damaja, Guru, Camp Lo, Verbal Hoods, Channel Live, and many more. 5 Deadly Venoms of Brooklyn is widely considered one of the greatest hip-hop mixtapes ever created. In the book Ego Trip's "Big Books of Rap Lists," it is properly ranked on the "Top 10 Greatest Mixtapes Ever" list. This is one of those tapes I've come back to a lot over the years. Who has your favorite set on the tape? Listen...

Mister Cee ‎"Best Of Jay-Z, Lifetime Pt. 2" (Mixtape, 1998)

Mister Cee's Best Of mixtapes are always legendary, starting with Notorious B.I.G. and Redman, as well as Mobb Deep and others. That said, this Tape Kingz release of The Best of Jay-Z, Lifetime Pt.II is another tape to keep in your walkman. Over two dozen tracks from Hov, some featuring artists like The Ranjahz, Memphis Bleek, Big Jaz, Sauce Money, Puff Daddy, Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Lil' Cease, Christion, Rell, Ja Rule, DMX, M.O.P., Jon B, Amil, Kid Capri, Foxy Brown, The Lox, Beanie Sigel, Timbaland and more. With Jay-Z's illustrious career still in progress and having succeeded so much since '98, this Best Of tape feels premature and doesn't tell the full story, but you should listen anyway... it's Hov! Props once again to DJ Step One for the quality rips. Click through for more.

Mister Cee "Classic Dancehall Chunes" (Mix)

The Finisher Mister Cee's classic dancehall chunes, live on Hot 97's Thursday throwback. A solid hour of vibes and hits from some of the biggest reggae and dancehall artists. Except tracks from Beenie Man, Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Capleton, TOK, Mr. Vegas, Ska, Bob Marley, Sister Nancy & a whole lot more. For those not from the East Coast, whether in NY or Toronto, you may not realize how integral dancehall was to 90s hip-hop culture, especially at parties and in the clubs. We threw on Dancehall & the show always went UP, some of the most important records to have in your crates.

Blacktract "Diary Of A Mad M.C." (12", 1995)

Blackstract was two brothers - WIC and Dadidas - from East Flatbush Brooklyn, New York in the mid-90s. Blackstract released three 12" releases between 1994-1996, all on Stikman Entertainment. I first heard of Blackstract through Mister Cee, who was always around in the New York scene and said to keep an ear out for them. Their first 12" is probably the most obscure - "I Stole Your Girl" - released in 1994. The track flips the same sample they'd later use on "Diary of a Mad M.C.," but the first 12" is produced by WIC, the rest of the tracks are produced by New York-known producer, Saran Rap. Blackstract released "Diary Of The Mad M.C." in '95, talking about being an unsigned artist on the come-up, navigating the industry. They were definitely conceptual artists, and while the sound was kinda Gravediggaz-ish, it wasn't on that same horrorcore tip. "A New Nightmare" kicks off with a vocal sample from Biggie, then tells the tale of what nightmares keep them up at night. Their third 12" was also produced by Saran Rap with "BKNY" and "Streets." At some point, there was an unofficial Blackstract release with all the singles from each 12" and a few sold on Discogs, not sure who was behind that, but if there's more in the stash, I'd definitely listen. Dig in...

Mister Cee "Forget About It" (Mixtape, 1999)

I missed this tape entirely back in '99... Mister Cee's Forget About It was released via Tape Kingz and the artwork/title alone shoulda forced me to check it out. Cut me some slack, there were entirely too many mixtapes droppin' in the late '90s. This one, in particular, includes tracks from Big L, Rahzel, Charlie Baltimore, Mobb Deep, Busta Rhymes, Made Men, Nas, Ja Rule, Slick Rick, DMX, Black Rob, Common, EPMD, Nature, Ruff Ryders, Cam'ron, Black Moon, Redman, Sauce Money, Inspectah Deck, 50 Cent and more. It's nothing amazing, but Donnie Brasco was a great movie, so the vocal drops alone making it a fun listen lol. Props to DJ Step One for another one, listen below...

Mister Cee "The Best Of Notorious B.I.G." (Mixtape, 1995)

The Finisher Mister Cee's "The Best of Notorious B.I.G." is arguably the definitive Biggie mixtape (even if it's not MY personal favorite). The cassette mix tape runs through a bunch of pre-internet rarities in Biggie's early catalog of records. Various joints with Super Cat, Mary J. Blige, Red Hot Lover Tone, Crustified Dibbs, Method Man, Heavy D, Da Brat, Big Daddy Kane, Total, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Pudgee Da Phat Bastard, Eddie F, LL Cool J, and more. Mister Cee gives a personal shout-out to "Junior Mafia, D, Puff Daddy, 50 Grand, Matt Life, and all the real muthaph#ckas who's been representing B.I.G. from the beginning." We'll always love Big Poppa ... Rest In Peace, Notorious B.I.G.

Mister Cee "That Freestyle Shit" (Vinyl EP, 1995)

Before it was released with Tape Kingz in a clear blue cassette, the vinyl for Mister Cee's "That Freestyle Shit" was self-released by Mister Cee in 1994. The classic release - in both formats - kicks off with "The Wickedest;" the infamous freestyle from Biggie, live at Mister Cee's crib. It also has Ol' Dirty Bastard's freestyle live at Big Daddy Kane's video shoot in Lafayette Gardens Projects in Brooklyn; Masta Ace Incorporate live at Firehouse Studios; Finsta Bundy live at Mister Cee's crib, and more freestyles with Keith Murray, Biz Markie & Brand Nubian. Perhaps the most historic freestyle on the release, however, is 2Pac, Big Daddy Kane, Big Scoob, Biggie Smalls and Shyheim, Live at The Garden! Need I say more? I think not, so dig into That Mister Cee Freestyle Sh!t below...