DJ Dyllemma & DJ Sav One "Coming Up In '09" (Mixtape, 2009)

This is the ’Coming Up In 09’ mixtape that DJ Dyllemma & I put together at the end of 2009. It was originally over 65 tracks and 2 hours long, but I eventually cut it at the point where it’d fit on a single CD. Unlike the “Best Of” lists that most publications were pushing at the time, we dug a bit deeper to shine light on the underground, with the exception of a few tracks & the bad timing of releasing the mix days before the CD-Q of "Exhibit C" was released, lol. You'll hear tracks from Nametag, Oddisee, Sene, Senor Kaos, Skillz, Black Thought, Homeboy Sandman, Fresh Daily, Redman, Raekwon, Madlib & Guilty Simpson, Reef The Lost Cauze, Pharoahe Monch, Fashawn, Buckshot, M.O.P,. Mellow Dramatic, Phonte, Finale, Torae & Marco Polo, Kev Brown, De La Soul, Tha Connection, Blitz the Ambassador, Saukrates, JR & PH7, Action Bronson, Diz Gibran, Saigon, Skyzoo, Tanya Morgan, La Coka Nostra, Breeze Brewin, Eternia, Diamond District... Mixed live and unedited, so take it for what it is, a dope reminder of how much quality hip-hop comes out each year! Updated.

Artifacts "The Ultimate" (The Source, 1997)

The Artifacts (El Da Sensei & Tame One) came with their 2nd single "The Ultimate" in 1997 for their sophomore album "That's Them" on Big Beat Records. With production from Baby Paul and Showbiz, "The Ultimate" got a look in The Source, which said: "After blessing their small but loyal listenership last year with the haunting chimes of "Art Of Facts," the Brick duo return again from the wrong side of the tracks of New Jerusalem with a slice of back-in-the-days bravado, laced with contemporary agitation. Randomly featured on the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink High School High soundtrack, "The Ultimate's" old-school style chorus and par-for-the-course boasts were solidly supported by the hillbilly wails and guitar stabs on Beatminer Baby Paul's original version." 

"D.I.T.C. fugitive Showbiz's overhaul, however, reinvigorates the exercise with the aggression of a physical education coach. Show's expertly arrange regiment of moog loops, handclaps, and scratches from Dana Dane's "Nightmares" provokes Tame One and El Da Sensei into kicking more personal, stronger, new lyrics." Even all these years later, reading the writer from The Source say "small but loyal listenership" still kinda irks me. Right about the remix though, the track still goes! Much respect to El and Tame, listen to "The Ultimate" and get back into the mood of music back in 1997.

Black Sheep Promo Condoms + "Strobelite Honey" (Video, 1991)

"Strobelite Honey" is the 1991 single from the hip-hop duo of Mista Lawnge & Dres as Black Sheep. The single was Black Sheep's third release from their "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" album in 1991. "Strobelight Honey" was their second entry on the US R&B chart, where it went peaked at #36 on the R&B sales chart and #80 on the Hot 100. The single sampled a pair of songs, both released in 1980: "I Like What You Do To Me" by Young & Company and "Take Your Time (Do it Right)" by the SOS Band. While not released to promote the single in particular, the "Put Your Wolf In Sheep's Clothing" / "Skins" condoms are an exceptional piece of physical promo for their "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing" LP. Check out the video to "Strobelite Honey" below, and always hit the tags for more!

One and One "Phenomenon" (12", 1996)

Released in 1996 through Next Plateau Entertainment, One and One was the Brooklyn-based underground hip-hop duo comprised of Harry Balz aka C. Burch and Doctor Ice from U.T.F.O. aka Sonny Boy - the track is called “Phenomenon.” The song samples Eddie Floyd’s “Check Me Out,” which was also sampled for The Firm's "La Familia." I loved that song, regardless of whether it was the Nature or Cormega version. The production for One and One's "Phenomenon" was handled by Swing Of Things Productions. There were two more 12" releases from them on Next Plateau, but I do not recall them at all, I'll have to give it a listen and see if it jogs my memory later. In the meantime, dig into the full 12" from 1996, and then dig into The Firm, because ... why not? Peace.

The Rap Monument (Noisey, Video)

Thirty-minutes of pure rap bliss from three of sessions held in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York. The Rap Monument features white-hot beats co-produced by Hudson Mohawke, Nick Hook and S-Type. This epic beat was then rapped over by the likes of Pusha T, Nipsey Hussle, Problem, Danny Brown, Meyhem Lauren, Raekwon, Vado, Flatbush Zombies, YG, CyHi the Prynce, Prodigy, Action Bronson, Yak Ballz and lots more. This may have flown below your radar and even if you don't like the beat or some of the MCs, just the sheer magnitude of the work built into this epic posse cut is worth a solid listen below. Who had the best verse(s)? Check the video out below and let me know...

Chairman Maf "Paint" (Instrumental Album)

UK's Chairman Maf is back with 13 more cinematic soulful hip hop instrumentals on "Paint." "Chairman Maf uses a combination of soulful melodies and entrancing vocal samples to create a 46 minute world which is far more than just a collection of beats ... he successfully molded an instrumental album which stands out as a piece of art, with themes of love, tranquility & betrayal without writing any lyrics," says UndergroundHH. For fans of DJ Shadow, J Dilla and more! Listen to it below...

Tony Touch "Hip Hop 25" (Mixtape, 1993)

This is Tony Touch's Hip Hop 25 aka Arrive To Get Live. Reaching 25 tapes probably felt like quite the milestone at the time... Released via Tape Kingz in 1993, it's got cuts from Naughty By Nature, Diamond D, Brand Nubian, Masta Ace Incorporated, Wu-Tang Clan, Lords of the Underground, King Tee, Kool G Rap, Kenny Dope, Young Black Teenagers, Rough House Survivers, Gang Starr, Heavy D. & The Boyz, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Brand Nubian, Zhigge, Nubian Crackers, Biz Markie, X-Clan, Nice & Smooth, Boogie Down Productions and more! Hearing Wu-Tang's "Protect Ya Neck" on this mix tape shows how ahead of their time they were - it sounds like nothing else on here. Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays to everyone... and enjoy Hip Hop 25 with updated audio (Thanks to J.Nickelz), below...

Logic "Under Pressure" (Album Stream)

Gaithersburg, Maryland native Logic (born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II) has amassed a large, dedicated fan base over the years via live shows and numerous free mixtapes. The backdrop for the album is Logic's childhood, where he grew up in a hectic environment, full of racism, drugs, and alcohol abuse. He dropped out of high school, was kicked out of his mother’s house, and soon found himself living in his friend Lenbo’s basement. It was there that he would hone his craft of making music, along with his friends 6ix and C Dot Castro. He released his first mixtape Young, Broke, and Infamous in 2010 which caught the ears of Chris Zarou, president of Visionary Music Group. From then through 2013, Logic released one mixtape a year through VMG, amassing a huge following with number-breaking downloads via DatPiff. Shortly after being revealed as a 2013 XXL Freshman, it was announced that Logic had signed to Def Jam Recordings and his debut album would be executive produced by legendary producer No I.D. That debut, Under Pressure, is now available, and I can't lie, it's a really solid project. I know what the critics are gonna say, but I don't think it's gonna matter.