Tony Touch "R&B 15: Summer Soul" (Mixtape, 1996)

This tape brings me back to the summer of 1996 so vividly... I copped R&B 15 by Tony Touch on cassette from Numbers Records in Ridgewood (Queens) on Myrtle Avenue; played it all summer and later brought it out to Long Island for my freshman year at Hofstra University (I lived on campus). I ran this mix tape as hard as I did Tape #44 (1995), another classic (to me) that rivaled the 50 MCs mix-series, simply off memories and nostalgia. I can tell you almost the complete tracklist -- and remember the transitions -- without running back the tape; it had joints from Case, SWV, Gina Thompson, A Tribe Called Quest, Skin Deep, Monica, Horace Brown, Toni Braxton, 112, Montell Jordan, Jodeci, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Zhane, and so much more. Yup, this brings me back, listen to the mix below...

J.Period "The Live Mixtape: Blastmaster Edition" (MJB Edition)

Here's another phenomenal mix that flew beneath my radar... the extremely talented and highly prolific J.PERIOD dropped this mixtape to Mary J. Blige as a tribute to the Queen of Hip-Hop soul! Recorded live in New York, the mix cycles through many of the Queen's most phenomenal records alongside artists like Method Man, The Notorious B.I.G., Smif-N-Wessun, Craig Mack, Grand Puba, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Jadakiss, Luther Vandross, DMX, Nas and that's not to take a drop away from her non-collaborative work which sets the standard for R&B. I don't post a whole lot of R&B releases, but you know I'll tap into the classic 90s R&B time and time again, especially the mix tapes. A proper tribute with various remixes, reworks and more! You know how he does it, listen below...

Dirty Harry "My Best of Blends" (Presented by RapMullet)

Props to RapMullet for putting together this fine mix of blends from the legendary Dirty Harry's catalog. I'm on the record that Dirty Harry is one of my favorite mixtape DJs, you can dig into the archives for plenty of his mixes but to compile some of his best blends in one mix is surely a labor of love. You'll hear lots of hip-hop and R&B blends featuring The Beatnuts & Big Pun, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Rakim, Mobb Deep, CL Smooth, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Jay-Z, Channel Live, Redman, Kanye West, Keith Sweat, 2Pac, SWV, and lots more. Something different to listen to, check it out below...

DJ Jazzy Jeff & MICK "Summertime: 2020" (Mixtape)

It's that time of year again! DJ Jazzy Jeff and MICK (Boogie) add another classic mix tape to their Summertime series. 2020 makes it 11 straight summers of mixes featuring that retro, soulful, cool out, BBQ-eating, suntan-getting, beach chair-sitting, two miles an hour so everybody can see you, music! Lots of great original samples, as well as tracks from Fabolous, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, OutKast, Jill Scott, Styles P, Jay Electronica, De La Soul, David Begun, Gang Starr, Bilal, Public Enemy, Nas, Usher, DMX, A Tribe Called Quest, Dwele, Boogie Down Productions, Big Daddy Kane, and more. A little late for 4th of July this year, fellas... but they put it down, as always. Check it out below...

J​.​PERIOD Presents "The Live Mixtape" (Ms. Lauryn Hill Edition)

Here is the latest installment in J.Period's The Live Mixtape series, which debuted last night and is now available for download in its entirety today, in celebration of Ms. Lauryn Hill's birthday! This former Fugee had the world in the palm of her slender brown hand with the release of her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, never letting anyone forget: This is Hip-Hop. The formidable lyricist with the raspy voice of an angel delicately fused R&B, reggae, and hip hop into one powerful, cohesive piece of work. (Vibe, 2003) There's so much I could say, but nothing speaks to her talent better than the music itself, so please sit back, relax, and enjoy this great mix by J.Period and wish a very Happy Born Day to one of the greatest artists in Hip-Hop history, Ms. Lauryn Hill!

Dirty Harry "Dirty Luv" (Mixtape, 1996)

Originally released in 1996, this is the first installment of Dirty Harry's classic mix tape series, Dirty Luv. The tape is hosted by Angie Martinez, but the music really does all the talking. As it's Valentine's Day, and I probably should've shared this years ago, pop this in with your significant other and let it rock. The mix includes tracks from Jodeci, Teddy Pendergrass, Prince, Force MD's, Guy, Bobby Brown, Stacy Lattisaw, Michel'Le, Sukiyaki, Johnny Gill, Silk, SWV, Chaka Khan, Denise Williams, Rick James, Isaac Hayes, Bill Withers, Frankie Beverly, Mary Jane Girls, Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, Mary J. Blige, Cameo, Al B. Sure, Keith Sweat, D'Angelo, Mtume, The Isley Brothers, Johnny Guitar Watson, and lots more. Be clear: this is not a tape to listen to alone! Timeless music!

Dirty Harry "Ghetto Heaven" (Mixtape, 1997)

Back again with another mix tape from Dirty Harry. This is Tape #6 aka Ghetto Heaven, which was considered part 2 to his Fist Full of Dollars mixtape. Released in 1997, Dirty Harry once again blends R&B and Hip-Hop, along with classic tracks, from artists like Nas, Gina Thompson, Jay-Z, Monica, Akinyele, Groove Theory, Keith Sweat, Lost Boyz, A Tribe Called Quest, Heather B, Real Live, Raekwon, Fugees, Busta Rhymes, Ghostface Killah and lots more. You know what to expect, but yet Dirty Harry always brings something fresh and original to his mixes. As an A&R for Krucial Keys, Harry has been an integral player in the game for a long time. This goes back to '97, listen below...

Dirty Harry "A Fist Full Of Dollars" (Mixtape, 1996)

Back to 1996, this is Tape #5 aka A Fist Full of Dollars from Dirty Harry. Dirty Harry's tapes made rounds throughout Queens and I'm sure they touched down wherever you lived, too. This tape features original blends/remixes from Dirty Harry on tracks from Busta Rhymes, D'Angelo, Groove Theory, Ras-T, Brandy, Surface, Fugees, Fat Joe, Raekwon, Horace Brown, Def Squad, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Xscape, AZ, Total, Faith Evans, Mobb Deep and lots more. Many of Dirty Harry's original tapes were remastered so they sound even better now. Dig into Dirty Harry's A Fist Full of Dollars below...

DJ Camilo "R&B II: Feelin' It" (Mixtape, 1997)

Smoothing is out, let's take it to 1997 with DJ Camilo's R&B II aka Feelin' It mix tape. Camilo hits us with some blends and original tracks from Mary J. Blige, Tara Thomas (and CL Smooth), Dru Hill, Allure (and Nas), Zhane (and The Lox), Maxwell, Keith Sweat, The Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, Tracey Lee, The Beatnuts, Gina Thompson, Erykah Badu, Montell Jordan, Alfonzo Hunter (and Keith Murray), Lauryn Hill, Leschea, The Truth (and Redman), Horace Brown, and lots more! Listen to the mix below...

DJ Jazzy Jeff x Mick Boogie "Summertime Vol.10" (Mixtape)

We've reached the 10th anniversary of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Mick Boogie's classic mixtape series, Summertime! Each year they provide us with a soundtrack to the summer for our BBQs, pool parties and all our dopest social gatherings. This year, Volume 10 includes tracks from The Isley Brothers, D'Angelo, OutKast, The Eagles, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Mims, Commodores, Lil Jon, EPMD, 2Pac & Dr. Dre, Warren G, Grand Puba, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Biz Markie, Nas, The Roots, Das EFX, Common, Father MC, Big Daddy Kane, Drake and lots more! Listen to classic mix below...

Doo Wop "Cool Out '93" (Mixtape, 1993)

Takin' it back to 1993, this is Doo Wop's Tape Kingz release of Cool Out '93. Doo Wop digs in the crates for the relaxed R&B and soul vibes with this one. The tape features tracks from H-Town, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Intro, Deniece Williams, Marvin Gaye, Mtume, Rick James, The Gap Band, Chaka Khan, Teddy Pendergrass, SWV, O'Jays, and more. If you were diggin' Dirty Harry's Dirty Luv on Valentine's Day, then this mix tape is also for you. Catch the vibe, listen to the tape below...

DJ S&S "Get Your Swerve On '95" (Mixtape, 1995)

This is DJ S&S's Get Your Swerve On '95 mix tape. The A-Side is called the "Smooth Side," and features Raphael Saadiq, Total, Xscape, Monica, Mary J. Blige, Groove Theory, Brownstone, TLC, Blackstreet, Faith Evans, Da Brat, Montell Jordan and more. On the B-Side aka the "Rough Side," DJ S&S gets into tracks from Method Man & Redman, Das EFX, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Big L, Notorious B.I.G., Keith Murray, LL Cool J, Money Boss Players, Raekwon, KRS-One, Lost Boyz, Onyx and more! Another dope tape outta Brooklyn's Tape Kingz, reppin' Hip-Hop and R&B in 1995. Listen to it below...

Jodeci ft. Raekwon & Ghostface "Freek’n You Remix" (5/5/96)

The remix to Jodeci's "Freek’n You" with Raekwon & Ghostface is one of a few records that still reminds of when I didn't have the internet, lol. I bought the Jodeci LP, the song isn't on there - then I bought the 12" single, which had Raekwon's verse, but no Ghostface. Ok, technically I borrowed stole that 12" from St. John's University Radio, but that's not the point! Ultimately, I was able to find a bootleg copy, which I am pretty sure was this version - their names weren't credited anywhere on the record, but it was the right version - the "Mr. Dalvin’s Freek Mix." Jodeci would return the favor to Raekwon soon after with his Rainy Dayz Remix, also produced by Mr. Dalvin. In the era of classic hip-hop remixes of R&B records, the Freek'n You Remix might be second only to Method Man's "All I Need." Classic bars include: "What's your name? Lex, last name Diamonds / Icy earrings shining / What's your occupation? Crazy rhyming..." and Ghost never fails to bring his own flavor with "You got the munchies, baby, ice cold milk and Lorna Doones / How you like it baby? I like it on the sink..." Below is a rare live performance of the song on this day in 1996. Video via Zeke62.

D'Angelo "Devil's Pie" (Documentary)

An intimate and revealing portrait of a legend-in-the-making, Devil’s Pie—D’Angelo buzzes with the soulful intensity of its subject, Grammy Award winning R&B artist D’Angelo. Never-before-seen live footage and painfully honest interviews combine to present this once larger-than-life superstar at his most vulnerable. The film traces the unexpected path of D’Angelo’s career and personal life, from his meteoric rise to his sudden disappearance and 14 year absence from the public eye. Following him as he mounts a wildly successful comeback tour, director Carine Bijlsma has crafted a remarkably energizing film, buoyed by an amazing soundtrack. With appearances from D’Angelo’s friends and collaborators including Questlove and Dave Chappelle, along with some eye-popping performance footage and revealing home video footage, Bijlsma gets to the heart of a sometimes enigmatic man. Sure to be heralded as a quintessential music documentary, the film finds D’Angelo at a crossroads, haunted by his past while marching defiantly into an uncertain future. - Tribeca Film.

Children Of Zeus "The Winter Tape" (Album Stream)

Some more dopeness from UK's favorite duo of Konny Kon & Tyler Daley, better known as Children Of Zeus. "The Winter Tape" is a free 14-track project, featuring production from Detroit's Black Milk, DJ Green Lantern, Beat Butcha & more, plus a nice feature from Milano Constantine. A thoughtful present to the fans to kick off our Christmas Eve, bundle up and lock in with The Winter Tape, available to stream in full and/or download below. Happy Holidays, y'all... stay safe and blessed! 

Dirty Harry "Tape #2" (Mixtape, 1995)

I've posted a bunch of Dirty Harry mix tapes over the years, but I've been diggin' back into his earlier mixes lately. This is Tape #2, from 1995, which features mostly blends/remixes of tracks from the Lost Boyz, Mobb Deep, Total, Monica, Kool G Rap, Mary J. Blige, Common, Naughty By Nature, Montell Jordan, Nas, Mobb Deep, Method Man, Wu-Tang Clan, Nine, Onyx, and lots more! He was puttin' it down, these mixes were all one-of-a-kind, so dig into Dirty Harry's Tape #2 below...

Dirty Harry "Tape #1" (Mixtape, 1995)

Today's selection is Tape #1 from Dirty Harry, one of the best mixtape DJs and blend-tape DJs, period. Released in 1995, the mix tape features Hip-Hop & RNB tracks/blends from Adina Howard, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Method Man, Nine, Big L, Mary J. Blige, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Craig Mack, Keith Murray, Queen Latifah, Rakim, Black Moon, Mobb Deep, Redman, Brand Nubian, and lots more. Dirty Harry wasn't the first DJ to blend Hip-Hop and R&B, but he was so on point with it!

Saba "Care For Me" (Album Stream)

This album was recommended to me by someone that knows I enjoy music that evokes emotion. "Trust me, you'll get into it," I was told. At first, it wasn't my particular brand of hip-hop, but sure enough, it did grow on me and did evoke emotion, which is the sign of a true artist. So, with that said, I also read this via Vinyl Me Please & thought to share it: "Care For Me is the most intense, isolated 41 minutes Saba’s ever released ... the final result is a stunning meditation on grief, survival and growth. The bright palettes of vibrant optimism streaked across much of his earlier works are slathered in greys and blues. It’s neither easy nor palatable, but personal and unafraid. We’re not dealing with any superhero, we’re dealing with Tahj Malik Chandler: a man who’s spent several years teetering from stardom in his city into the national spotlight, losing his stride, finding it again and losing it once more when he lost his cousin. Saba’s finally making the music he’s dreamt of: the rapping is precise and direct, the melodies are piercing and catchy and the weight of every bottled emotion lands until it shatters the heart. Not to mention how it’s so West Side, the traces of his familial importance are left like Remus crumbs: his grandmama’s splotchy grass plot, memories of childhood conflicts and getback, how Walter finessed him a prom date and asked for some extra bread for a prom suit. The detail would suggest several agonizing months of laborious writing, editing, synthesis… but none of it was by design. It was a tribute for a fallen link in the bloodline, a therapeutic breath in a fucked-up time." Give it a chance & stream it below (Updated stream).

Children Of Zeus "Travel Light" (Album Stream)

It’s been a long road leading to this album for Tyler Daley and Konny Kon. They first embarked on their expedition into the music game two decades back - Tyler entered the scene as a songwriter, producer and vocalist, originally under the moniker Hoodman, whilst Konny began MCing, DJing and beat-making for hip hop crews The Microdisiacs and Broke’n’£nglish, along with DRS & Strategy. To date, Children of Zeus have released three sell-out singles on First Word (‘Still Standing’, ‘I Can’t Wait’ and ‘Slow Down’) and a compilation EP comprised of tracks made by the duo over the last decade entitled ‘The Story So Far…’. Children of Zeus are finally at the stage where they are releasing their debut album proper; the over-riding ethos of which is about keeping their eyes on the road ahead, whilst shedding the baggage they’ve accumulated over the years - ‘Travel Light’. 

DJ Jazzy Jeff x Mick Boogie "Summertime Vol.9" (The Mixtape)

They are back again! DJ Jazzy Jeff and Mick Boogie drop off Volume 9 in their Summertime mixtape series! This year's classic mix includes tracks from Rhymefest, Amerie, Michael Jackson, T.I., Arrested Development, Justin Timberlake, The Beatnuts, The Game, OutKast, Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, Ice Cube, Stetsasonic, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys & Q-Tip, House Of Pain, Nelly, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, EPMD, Nas, Lord Finesse, Black Sheep, Slick Rick, The Jackson 5, Mark Morrison, Raphael Saadiq, The Pharcyde, Pete Rock & CL Smooth and lots more. Enjoy the mix below! Happy 4th!