Dr. Dre "The Chronic" + "A Taste of The Chronic" (12/15/92)

The Chronic opens with the sound of a jail door slamming, and before the tumblers went click, Dr. Dre had a lock on the '90s. As a record, Dre's post-N.W.A. debut gave African-American resentment and ghetto nihilism a seductive, cinematic flow. As a cultural force, it rolled over all resistance, defining the entire country as Death Row Records turf and selling the West Coast gang mythos to the suburbs. "Dre fuckin' slowed down the '90s like The Matrix," Public Enemy's Chuck D says. "That record transformed everything--all that laid-back California shit." Dre says he makes "feel records," and the feel of The Chronic is riot-time Los Angeles, 1992, bitterness grazing across territorial lines, anger edging into stoned hilarity. The album's gaggle of rappers sounds reborn in rage, posing as "n!ggas with big dicks and AK-47s" like they're having the time of their lives. But all that anger flowed from a very personal need for revenge. "It was a period in my life when I had just left [N.W.A.'s label] Ruthless, and talk on the street was I wasn't going to be able to do it without those guys," Dre says. "So I felt I had something to prove." The Chronic rolls on drum-machine beats, like most rap albums, but Dre revolutionized the genre by deemphasizing samples, bringing in a Moog keyboard, live horn players, and crucially, multi-instrumentalist Colin Wolfe, who played the bass lines and eerie, high-pitched synths that provided the outrageously catchy hooks. Recreated P-Funk, Isaac Hayes, and Donny Hathaway melodies complete the essence of "G-Funk": cold-compress grooves applied to street-corner static, a budded-out haze that makes the anger seem serene and spacious. The cast was pulled from the 50 or so people who dropped by "the Lab" on a typical day to get high and get heard--MCs That N!gga Daz, Kurupt, RBX, the Lady of Rage. But the album's secret weapon is Snoop Doggy Dogg, a young Crip who'd recorded the underground hit "Deep Cover" with Dre the year before, and whose dry, graceful drawl dominates the record ("I guess I just wanted it a little more than everyone else," Snoop says). As he drops "a jimmy joke about your mama that you might not like," Snoop sounds lighthearted, almost giggly, like nothing can touch him.

Hip-hop's energy source had been going West for years, and The Chronic's four million copies sold, two Top 10 singles ("Nuthin' But a "G" Thang," "Dre Day"), and omnipresent videos, were the final victory. The album's barely ambivalent, skitlike vision of the ghetto as a bullet-riddled sex-and-drug party had white kids in front of the mirror enunciating "beeee-yatch," while conservative activist C. DeLores Tucker went on a Washington rampage against so-called "gangsta rap." It's even said that the album's success caused the price of the herb it was named after to skyrocket. The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 debut, Ready To Die, brought attention back East, but even he sampled Dr. Dre's "Lil' Ghetto Boy" and The Chronic's narrative structure. After Dre hit it was truly the G-Funk era: Snoop's Doggystyle debuted at No.1 in 1993, and Dre's stepbrother Warren G concocted the brilliant Regulate, then came the reserves-the Twinz, Tha Dogg Pound, etc. Violent drama became a hip-hop industry standard; even records by experimentalists like the Wu-Tang Clan and the Fugees needed a body count for credibility. The Chronic funded Suge Knight's Death Row, and it's doctrine of revenge articulated label policy on both coasts, leading to Knight's feud with Bad Boy's Sean "Puffy" Combs. For years after The Chronic, "never hesitate to put a n!gga on his back" was rap policy. Before things cooled down, Death Row's Tupac Shakur and Bad Boy's B.I.G. were murdered; Knight went to jail on a parole violation; Dre and Snoop eventually fled Death Row; and Snoop toured with 1995's Lollapalooza in a bullet-proof van. Today, Dre attributes some of the above--plus hip-hop's onslaught throughout the 90s--to the triumph of The Chronic. "If that record wasn't successful, at least 50 percent of that shit wouldn't have happened." - Spin Magazine (September, 1999). Dig in...

A full copy of Spin Magazine's feature on The Chronic in 9/99...

The Firm "The Firm Album" (Cassette Sampler, 1997)

"The Firm was like this hip-hop supergroup. All three of them - Nas, AZ, and Foxy Brown - had reached a level of success by this time, so getting the three of them together was a real challenge. AZ was an hour late, Nas was an hour late, and Foxy was even later, like hours and hours, so I decided to work with AZ and Nas first and got some individual shots. I remember Nas was wearing this big "QB" (Queensbridge) medallion. I shot this at Sony Studios soundstage. I was always really inspired by the Blue Note albums, so I used filters for the lights and also added a filter on the lens, and that gives it the red tone. When you apply red filters to black-and-white photos in particular, it does something really magical to skin tones." - Jamil GS (Contact High). Just about anything that could be said of The Firm's 1997 group album has already been said, surely, but just wanted to revisit the album on its anniversary and aside from the photoshoot above, also share the original album sampler (via cassette) that was hosted by DJ Clue and released to promote the LP. It's dope that Cormega is back in the fold of things and is featured on the King's Disease LP. Of course, respect to Nature, who had one of the best mix tape runs at that time. He bodied everything he touched on those early Clue mix tapes. Anyhow, released on 10/21/97.... listen to the sampler below.

Firm Biz ad from The Source's cover issue with Nas, Foxy & AZ...

Pharoahe Monch "Internal Affairs" (Album Sampler, 1999)

"As one half of Organized Konfusion (OK), the 27-year-old Jamaica, Queens, N.Y., native co-sired some of hip-hop's most innovative but commercially ignored creations during his eight years of paying dues. Three albums later, and with OK on indefinite hiatus, Monch, born Troy Jamerson, sees his Rawkus Records solo debut, Internal Affairs (which features guest spots from fellow wonder mike masters Busta Rhymes, Canibus, and Common), as an opportunity to purge volatile emotions and refine his ever-evolving performance persona. "Moving into this LP," Monch says, "my goal is to develop an audience that [sees me], "He's kinda deep in the shit that he thinks about. At the same time, he likes porn, [sex], and the same shit I like.'" "Simon Says," Internal Affairs' commanding lead single, is the hottest song both on Big Apple radio and in clubland. Built off a doomsday horn riff, a freestyled do-as-Pharoahe-does chorus, and periodic exhortations to "get the fuck up!" it's that unique song that both underground-worshipping hip hop academicians and Hennessey-sipping thugs can enjoy. So how's this longtime underdog adjusting to such stratospheric recognition? "[People] haven't put the face together with the song," Monch concedes in a typically low-key manner. "I was on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, 'Simon Says' came on the radio, and, like, eight squeegle guys were all dancing around the car. I pulled up to the light and was like 'Yo, good lookin'.' And they're like, 'What the fuck are you lookin' at?'" But Monch is unfazed. He knows that with a Busta Rhymes-directed video for "Simon Says" on the way, nobody will have problems matching tune and performer." - Vibe, 12/99. Internal Affairs is still a classic album that I keep in constant rotation, so I thought I'd share the original cassette album sampler with you on its anniversary (10/19/99) today. The flip side of the cassette was Mos Def's Black On Both Sides, which maybe I'll share separately in another post.

The flyer for the album release party and more below...

Raekwon "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" (25th Anniv. + Sampler)

Remember that feeling when you first saw Scarface or King of New York? Well that's how it feels when you listen to the new album by Raekwon The Chef. 'Only Built...' is the third solo project to come out The Wu-Tang stable, and they just keep getting better and better. Yes that's right, Raekwon's debut is better than both ODB's and Method Man's and, although it has much of the same personnel of the other Wu-Tang joints, it has a vibe and personality all of its own. This is not just a rap album with nine tracks on each side. This is a piece of hip-hop cinema. The cinematic vibe is achieved by interspersing tracks with conversations between Raekwon and Ghost Face Killer discussing their hopes and fears for the future alongside scenes from gangsta movies. All featured rappers playing the roles of G's and hustlers have taken on alias for the occasion. Raekwon becomes Lou Diamonds, Ghost Face Killer becomes Tony Starks, Method Man makes an appearance as Johnny Blaze, the RZA steps up as Bobby Steeles, and there's a special cameo from Nas as Nas Escobar. The eerie menacing vibe is further added to by the spooky vocals of Blue Raspberry...

The story of 'Only Built...' ostensibly charts the struggle of the Wu-Gambino family of Gatin Island, and their struggle to get paid and stay alive long enough to spend it. They fiend with the obsession of a crack head for the trappings of a material success, every song seeming to have a reference to some designer label or other, be it Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Lexus, Cristal, or Liz Clayborne. But beneath this surface negativity they express the positive values of self sufficiency and the importance of maintaining the family unit. Like any good gangsta film there are moments of tension and menace ('Rainy Days'); moments of excitement and violence ('Glaciers Of Ice' and 'Spot Rushers'); a love interest ('Wisdom Body' and 'Ice Cream'); and the obligatory sad reflective ending ('Northstar'). Although, thanks to the production from the ever present RZA, the Wu-Tang vibe is in there, the element and vivid New York state of mind style of Raekwon and Ghost Face Killer is more reminiscent of that other golden child of the rotten apple, Nas. 'Only Built...' represents the cream of east coast rap up there with Nas and Mobb Deep and definitely the best from the Clan so far. It's so good it's scary. - HHC (9/95). Only Built 4 Cuban Linx celebrates it's 25th anniversary today!

Below is the album sampler for Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. It was released on cassette in 1995 with the title "Latest & Greatest Hits," and the artwork boasts: "The next chapter from the 'platinum' Wu-Tang camp... Once again servicing up that hot sh*t! The one featured on the hit singles - "C.R.E.A.M." & "Can It All Be So Simple" ... lyricist, producer & director... Member of Staten Island's most infamous rhyme family ... the debut single from Raekwon The Chef." The audio features an exclusive Freestyle, "Criminology," "Glaciers Of Ice," "Can It All Be So Simple Remix," "Eye For An Eye," "C.R.E.A.M." and "Heaven & Hell." I've always cherished this cassette, a gem in the collection via Loud Records. The blurb they included with it is confusing as f#ck though, no? lol. Listen to Rae's Latest & Greatest Hits below, and peep between some of the tracks for additional exclusive conversations!

Raekwon's album review in Hip Hop Connection (August, 1995)...

De La Soul "Stakes Is High" (7/2/96) + "Stakes & Potatoes"

The Hip-Hop landscape has changed dramatically since De La Soul's debut... yet with each album, the trio have managed to reinvent themselves.... Stakes Is High departs from the trio's previous creations both in style and substance... This is an album that is instead the group's most outwardly responsive... De La Soul's mission this time is to serve as a counterpoint to the "players" who have simply dominated Hip-Hop over the last few years with images and slogans centering on violence, materialism and money... Their lyrics are devoid of heavy symbolism, and for the first time they employ outside production -- actions that edge them closer to the rest of the pack... They've never done the same album or the same song twice, and as difficult as it may be to accept, Stakes Is High is just a different type of album for them. Consider it a slight dip in the path De La travels to possibly becoming the greatest Hip Hop group of all time. - Rap Pages, July 1996. As a bonus, below is the album's sampler cassette, which they titled "Stakes & Potatoes." It features a few snippets, full versions of both tracks on the 12" single, as well as drops from Common, Zhane, Mos Def, Biz Markie, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Busta Rhymes. The album was released on July 2, 1996... and if you ask me, it's still a better album than "It Was Written," released the same day, by Nas. Fight me!!

Nas "Nas Is Coming" (Album Sampler, 1996)

The It Was Written sampler boasted the following message: "Since his universally acclaimed debut Illmatic in '94, the world of hip hop has waited for the second chapter from the voice of the Queensbridge projects, Nas. It was Written, the second chapter from Nas will hit July '96 and delivers all it promises, with production by Trackmasters, Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, L.E.S., and featuring Lauryn Hill (Fugees), D'Angelo and Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan). It Was Written will justify the anticipation... Nas is coming." You wouldn't be wrong to wonder where the D'Angelo and Method Man tracks are, because it's not on this sampler and they certainly weren't included on the album. History has it that both D'Angelo and Method Man missed their studio sessions so the songs were never recorded. Do I believe that? I mean... it's weird to promote tracks that weren't even recorded yet. The album came out on this day in July and promo materials were delivered in late May, so I have my doubts, but weird shit happens everyday, B. Plus, that'd be prime material for his series, The Lost Tapes, so I guess it's true or else we would've heard that material by now. Right, Nas? To celebrate its anniversary, below is the album's sampler cassette. I ripped it from cassette years ago, so apologies if it's a bit lo-fi, but dig into it below. If it gets taken down, lemme know! Oh, and just for the record, us New Yorkers were wrong to hate on this album back in '96... my bad, Nas! I still don't think it's better than Illmatic or Stakes Is High, but that's a topic for another day...

If you want to see the actual cassette, here's one of two covers released for the tape...

Wu-Tang Clan "Wu-Tang Forever" (June 3, 1997) + Sampler

On this day in 1997, Wu-Tang Clan released their sophomore album, an enhanced double-CD entitled Wu-Tang Forever. The album "reasserted the group's dominance at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and going quadruple platinum in its first four months." (Billboard, 11/15/97) Ahead of the album, Billboard posted an early article on January 11, 1997, saying, "The forthcoming set, a double album, according to the Wu's chief sound craftsman, RZA, is one of the most eagerly awaited collections this season. It will follow the 1.5 million-selling "Enter The Wu-Tang Clan: 36 Chambers"  (Loud/RCA, 1993) and the several successful solo sets it has spawned: Method Man's "Tical" (Def Jam, 1.1 million units), Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Return To The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version" (Elektra, 650,000 units), Ghostface Killah's "Ironman" (Razor Sharp/Epic, 500,000 units), and Genius' "Liquid Swords" (Geffen, 700,000 units). The new long-player was supposed to emerge Feb. 14 with the title "Valentine's Day Massacre," but it will drop later, probably in March, with a new name, according to executives at Loud. In the four years since it made its debut with pockmarked, slightly irregular soundscapes wrapping emotionally charged, hard-edged reality rhymes (everything from the good, bad, and lovely to the ugly and crazy), Wu-Tang Clan has developed into a consistent hip-hop conglomerate by ignoring established rules of commerce. The secret of its success is its ability to expand on what has come before while staying in touch with the audience that first embraced its members' style." Truth is, Wu-Tang Forever was the soundtrack to my summer in '97 - I cop'd the 2-CD at Sam Goody in Manhattan on pre-order, which came with a $3-off coupon and - of equal importance - I serendipitously ended up in a serious relationship with the girl that worked behind the counter, lol. Although I've posted it before, you can listen to the official snippet tape for Wu-Tang Forever below the two-page advert for the album that was posted in Spin magazine - the cassette sampler includes a few tracks and commentary from RZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Raekwon. 

Original Wu-Tang Forever "Snippet Tape" from 1997...

Rawkus Presents "Soundbombing II" (Snippet Tape, 1999)

Soundbombing II was reviewed in the August, 1999 issue of Vibe Magazine - Noah said: "Three years ago, the brains behind Rawkus devised a plan to nurture a crop of MCs just starting to blossom in New York City's underground hip hop scene. And now that the climate of hip hop is slowly beginning to shift away from the Puff-driven "ice" age, Rawkus prepares to reap the benefits of their harvest with the release of Soundbombing II. Unlike its predecessor, and especially the languid Lyricist Lounge Vol.1 (Rawkus, 1998), SBII illustrates the evolution of Rawkus's MCs from raw and unpolished to solid, skilled artists poised to give chart-topping rappers a serious run for their money. This newfound confidence and maturity is typified by the High & Mighty's "B-Boy Document 99" as well as Pharoahe Monch and Shabaam Sahdeeq's slamming collaboration, "WWIII." Both cuts bang with the up-tempo, high-octane power of Black Star's 1998 "Definition," the label's biggest hit so far. Even slower tracks, like Eminem's understated "Any Man" and the soulful title track by Dilated Peoples & Tash, maintain a high level of intensity. Rawkus has weathered the storm of R&B-infused, radio-friendly hip hop that has dominated for so long, and now the sun shines on more rugged styles. So pump up Soundbombing II and bask in the glow." In the Spin Magazine review (July, 1999), Neil Drumming adds "Rawkus's resident preacherman, Talib Kweli, strives to "turn jams into revolutionary parties," adding conscious-rap protein to the Reflection Eternal crew and on a duet with Bahamadia. The showstopper, however, is "Patriotism," by constant complainers Company flow, a clever, cacophonous slam of all things American... The cheerfully undanceable track and antiestablishment lyrics both reinforce Rawkus's rep as a label of originators and anchor Soundbombing II firmly at street level." Soundbombing II was released by Rawkus Records on this day in 1999, so revisit the original cassette snippet tape - mixed by J. Rocc and DJ Babu - below. 

Original promo sticker for Soundbombing II, colors have faded from storage.

Big Pun "Pre-Trial Motion" (Album Sampler, 1998)

"The story goes like this: Loud Records signs Big Pun, a talented, but relatively unknown MC. Two years before releasing Punisher's first LP Capital Punishment, Buddha and his Street Teams across the country went to work. They stuck with grassroots strategies (stenciling, sniping, sample tapes, etc.) and didn't quit promoting until after the record dropped. The result: Right out the box, Big Pun debuts at number five. Capital Punishment remained in the top fifteen for nine weeks and has sold approximately 2,000,000 albums to date (April, 1999 - Vibe) - all with no initial video and little radio airplay." Buddha was part of SRC's (Street Records Corporation) NYC Street Team, which set the bar for Guerrilla marketing at the time, and was created by Loud Records' Steve Rifkind. The mention of sample tapes above refers to Big Pun's promotional cassette sampler, Pre-Trial Motion, which was released in 1998 ahead of Capital Punishment and partially mixed the tracks "Twinz" with Fat Joe, "Toe 2 Toe" with Cuban Link, "Off The Books" with The Beatnuts, Wishful Thinking with B-Real, Fat Joe & Kool G Rap; "Dreamshatter," "Firewater" with Fat Joe, Raekwon & Armageddon, "You Ain't a Killer" and "Still Not A Player." Big Pun also had the classic promotional "Big Punisher" condoms, which was great marketing as well. Capital Punishment was released on this day in 1998 with production from The Beatnuts, Rockwilder, Knobody, Domingo, L.E.S., Minnesota, RZA, Showbiz and more. We lost Pun too early and this undeniable classic is a reminder to celebrate his life and legacy as one of the greatest lyricists and one of the funniest, most charismatic artists to ever bless the mic. Listen to the Pre-Trial Motion sampler and hit the tags for more... Remember Pun!

An original Big Punisher promotional condom if you've never seen one...

Chino XL "Here To Save You All" (The Source + '96 Sampler)

"Public Enemy first posed the question: "Why are you so hostile?" The answer gave voice to arguably the foremost emotion underscoring hip-hop, the confrontational. Since then, nearly every MC to have picked up a mic has employed infinite rhyme and reason in trying to build on that sentiment. Unfortunately, the expression has, for the most part, been diluted. Simply put, too much of hip-hop's rage has grown tired and impotent. These days it is the rare artist that infuses new energy into hip-hop's most tried and true well-spring. Chino XL is such an artist. Get ready to throw down props for his debut, Here To Save You All. First and foremost, Chino can rhyme. Last year, two of his unreleased songs - "No Complex" and a collaboration with Ras Kass called "Riiott!" - circulated throughout the underground, popping up on The Source's "Fat Tape" and on hip-hop radio across the country. The full album proves neither joint was a fluke. The 16 tracks on Here To Save You All are a densely-packed, tightly-wound, searing, non-stop verbal assault on everyone and everything." Check out Chino XL's album sampler mix to "Here To Save You All," continued below...

"Chino takes the venerable practice of reworking pop culture and current event references into hip-hop contexts to a new level: O.J., Eazy E, the U.S. Invasion of Haiti, Woody Harrelson, teen pregnancy, Heidi Fleiss, Darryl Strawberry, welfare reform, even his own label - "My company (Rick Rubin's American Recordings) is fuckin' me like Arsenio does Eddie Murphy." You name it, they all get done. Still, what is perhaps most impressive about Here To Save You All is the fact that it's a record with equal amounts style and substance. Listen closely and you'll pick up more than laugh-out-loud jokes and disses. "No Complex" takes on the insipid materialism of much of today's hip-hop: "What I Am?" deals with growing up as a child of mixed ethnicity; and "Ghetto Vampire" and "Rise" delve into complex political and spiritual territory. The beats don't miss either. The album's production is laced with an intricate, Wu Tang-like flava. Although Chino is an East Orange, NJ native, a good portion of Here To Save You All was recorded in LA and the record successfully incorporates elements of both coasts' sounds. Here To Save You All is solid, dynamic and refreshing. It's both good and good fo ya." - The Source, May, 1996. The album was released on this day in 1996. Much respect to Chino XL!

A Tribe Called Quest "The Anthology" (Promo Mixtape, 1999)

In 1999, this mixtape was a promotional (cassette) release for A Tribe Called Quest's "The Anthology" compilation. It was mixed by DJ Noise and features a solid intro, as well as cuts like "Steve Biko," "Push It Along," "1nce Again," "Foot Prints," "Buggin' Out," "Mind Power," "The Chase (Part 2)," "Oh My God," "Busta's Lament" and "The Pressure." I think we can all agree that during these difficult times, we look back on better days and surely A Tribe Called Quest's music was the soundtrack to many of them (at least it was for me!). With that said, dig into this short mix below, and Rest In Peace, Phife!

If you want the full artwork, the back cover art is available below.

Trends Of Culture "When Trend Men Come" (Album Sampler)

Originally due to be released in 1995, the lost 2nd album from Trends of Culture, 'When Trend Men Come,' has finally arrived courtesy of GRR/Heavy Jewelz and is a must-have for 90s rap fanatics! Featuring the original 11 track album (remastered from the impossible-to-obtain promo tape and sounding great) PLUS 3 bonus demo tracks from the same era (the demos are pretty rough but have been restored as best as possible). I've been waiting on this album since '95 when they dropped the 12" for "Make A Move," not to mention their cult-classic debut "Trendz..." and the remix to "Who Got My Back," which convinced me a follow-up was definitely coming soon. Approaching 25 years later, the wait is over, check out the snippets of "When Trend Men Come" and the archives.

Capone-N-Noreaga "Ya Heard! Vol.1" (The Penalty Mixtape)

A dope promo tape from Capone-N-Noreaga in '98, featuring released and unreleased tracks from "The War Report," as well as tracks from Noreaga's "N.O.R.E" album and a few other joints thrown in. The tape is awkwardly called "Ya Heard! Vol.1: The Penalty Mixtape;" mixed by Cipha Sounds & hosted by Funkmaster Flex who comes loud as can be on the mix, lol. Pics by me, but fortunately DJ Step One already has a nice copy of it on Mixcloud, so props to him for saving me the time ripping it, head over to his page for lots more content. Blast off with Funk Flex & Capone-N-Noreaga, enjoy "Calm Down," "Married To Marijuana," "Blood Money" and other dope throwbacks. Listen to it below...

This was one of my favorite promo tapes at the time.

Coming Soon: Samplers, Snippet Tapes & More Mixes

Coming soon .... lots of cassette rips of old snippet tapes, samplers, and mixes. I don't have the best set-up to do it so it'll be pretty standard -- unless someone has some pro-audio suggestions on low... but it'll work. Above is a selection of the tapes I've put aside for a day when I'll actually start working through ripping them digitally. Depending on the length, they will either go up on MixCloud or Audiomack. If anyone has any old cassettes they'd like to contribute or old mags (Blaze, HHC, Rap Pages, Stress, etc), definitely hit me up about it. I've got a nice collection to work from, but there's always more to find - especially internationally, so let's talk. In the meantime, I'll keep posting content that has spoken to me over the years, as well as material that may in the future. I hope its resonating?If you have any suggestions or requests, message me or hit me in the comments.

Wu-Tang Clan "Wu-Tang Forever" (Snippet Tape, 1997)

This Wu-Tang snippet cassette was released by Loud Records in 1997 in advance of the Wu's double disc album, 'Wu-Tang Forever.' It included snippets of some of the best tracks on the album and clips of the RZA, Raekwon, and Ol' Dirty Bastard speaking on various aspects of the Wu, which you can read more about below. It's only about 12 minutes long and it's repeated on the B-Side of the cassette. 'Wu-Tang Forever' debuted at #1 on Billboard, sold 612k copies in its first week and is 4x platinum. Below is the cassette audio and a page straight from Billboard magazine in May of 1997 discussing the tape. In related news, it wasn't until 2015 that GZA's second studio album, 'Liquid Swords' was certified platinum - 20 years after its release - making it the first album to go platinum since Method Man's 2004 release, 'Tical 0: The Prequel.' Times have changed, huh? 'Wu-Tang Forever' dropped on this day in 1997, so raise a cup for its 20th anniversary! R.I.P., Ol' Dirty Bastard!

Read the article in Billboard Magazine (updated) below...

Afiliashun 'The Perfect Time' EP (Chopped Herring Snippets)

Peace to Bob Lipitch at Chopping Herring Records, he's back with another one! Reppin' Baltimore, Maryland, the group Afiliashun recorded this gem of an EP in 1996-1997. I've covered the original pressing in years past; it was originally released on Revalashun Records in 1997. There may even be some dead zShare links with my name on it lurking around the interwebs, lol. Allegedly. It's a solid B-more record, which offers 4 tracks: 'Tell Me If You Open,' 'Who's This' and 'Bullet Proof,' which are produced by Regi Ruckus, and the final track 'King of the Hill' is produced by Verble. According to the Chopped Herring website, there will be 350 copies pressed: the first 120 copies will be on White Pearl colored vinyl and the remaining 230 are on traditional black vinyl. Trust, most Chopped Herring releases sell out quickly because there is strong support in the vinyl community and they do quality work, so order yours now. The label is also hosting a short sale that ends on Monday, so dig into their back catalog - I highly recommend: Shadez of Brooklyn, CeStyle, Natural Elements, The AbSouljah, North Bronx Alliance, Daddy-O, & Beneficience (depending on what's still in stock).

Naughty By Nature "Nature's Fury" (Snippet Tape, 1999)

Let me start off by saying, 'Nature's Fury' is not Naughty By Nature's best work; however, I do think Treach is one of the most underrated writers and lyricists, so I wanna take every opportunity to shine a light on his catalog. With that said, 'Nature's Fury' is Naughty By Nature's 5th studio album, it was released on this day in 1999 through Arista Records. In the mainstream, 'Jamboree' was a charting single in '99 and was widely considered a comeback hit for Treach, Vinnie & Kay Gee after they'd taken a 4-year break between releases. Meanwhile, 'Dirt All By Lonely' worked because it fed the underground too. They went down South to tap Master P, Silkk The Shocker & Mystikal on 'Live or Die,' which I'm certain I skipped over, but I trust some people liked it, and the last single was 'Holiday.' In the climate of music in '99 and given their past success with crossover hits, their reach for getting back on the charts didn't surprise me, but it wasn't quite the album I was hoping for at the time. It lacked some of the more balanced album cuts that Naughty always kept to feed the streets. Even the track with Big Pun was a miss in my eyes. On a brighter note, the 'Nature's Fury' snippet tape was put out in advance of the album and had Treach rhyming over 4-5 short instrumentals in between snippets from tracks off the album; it's perhaps the only unique piece of promo I have from this album and it was hand-delivered on cassette. You can hear the mix below.

The Roots "Things Fall, A Preview" (Mixed by Jazzy Jeff, 1999)

The Roots are at the top of a very short list of groups that continue to break new ground and push the culture forward. It's actually amazing to watch them do their thing, consistently, for so many years. To me, Black Thought is a top 5 lyricist and I struggle to understand anyone who would disagree, lol. To honor 'Things Fall Apart' being released on this day in 1999, I uploaded the DJ Jazzy Jeff-mixed promotional tape, 'Things Fall, A Preview' for your listening pleasure. Be sure to purchase or revisit a copy of 'Things Fall Apart' today, and give Black Thought his all flowers while he can smell them! Apologies in advance if the mix gets blocked in certain countries, ya know, restrictions apply!

Raised By Seuss "Unless: Twenty Years, Too Late" (Snippets)

Raised by Seuss is composed of True One, The Grinch, and DJ Pioneer. They'd formed in 1988, but disbanded in 1994. Raised By Seuss was a collective that had received notoriety from the famous 411VM Skateboard Video Magazine on issue #6, and was an actively looked-for demo and was impossible to find, until now... A full length LP, only 300 pressed and on limited colored and black wax of both their first two previously unreleased demos. Remastered from the master tapes and pressed for your convenience. The album features Next of Kin Unit, Charizma, Chris Cut (aka Peanut Butter Wolf) & Quiz One. Due to the nature of this release, I feel like it's gonna be a vinyl-only exclusive, so if you don't pick up a copy, these snippets below may be the only digital artifacts!

D.I.T.C. "D.I.T.C. Studios" (Album Sampler)

The legendary Diggin’ In The Crates crew are back in the studio - their own studio at that - and the result is their first new album in 15 years! 15 tracks deep, the album features lyrics and production by all members of the crew, including a few new affiliates. Highlights include a return to the microphone by Lord Finesse on the banger “Rock Shyt”, Fat Joe returning to this legendary Bronx crew and DJ Premier production on “Connect 3.” The album was designed to be the first of many new releases coming out of their new headquarters and label, DITC Studios. You can order the Deluxe Edition via Fat Beats, but you know how I feel about album samplers, so check it out below + Put an L up for Big L - may he Rest In Peace. Great to see the D.I.T.C. crew back together.