Back with another one, I'll let Combat Jack tell it: "90 minutes wasn't enough time. On the eve of releasing his tenth album 'Nobody's Smiling', Common revisits his days growing up in Chicago, being inspired by Michael Jordan, house music, Chicago mayor Harold Washington, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and how this album addresses the current plight of black on black crime in the windy city. Also, what it means to reunite with No I.D., being haunted by the ghost of Emmett Til and the very real and deep mystical powers of the phenomena known as "Badu Box". So much wasn't covered, but you won't hear this type of Common interview anywhere else on the planet." Hear the interview below...
"In a smoky Detroit club, Wu-Tang's Cappadonna performs with a crew of about 15 hype men. But in the audience, Royce Da 5'9" is holding his own court, surrounded by friends downing Bacardi Limon shots and talking shit. Minutes later, a fight erupts out front, and one of Royce's boys tries to knock the chin off a rival crew member. Looking over his merry men, Royce remarks, "Loyalty is my downfall," and reluctantly moves towards the fray. Fortunately, the scuffle ebbs, and Royce leaves for his car, relieved. Ryan "Royce" Montgomery is not a thug. He was raised in the middle-class Detroit suburb of Oak Park, in a two-parent home at that. Although the 24-year old gave into violence and petty thuggery as a teen, most of that ceased when he had his own son, Royce, three years ago. As an amateur MC battling at open mikes in 1998, Royce decided to take rapping seriously in order to support his new family. "It was like, I really gotta do this shit now," he says, "I can't just stop and decide I want to go to college or something." Peep "Rock City," cont'd below...
"Royce hooked up with a producer and recorded "a zillion songs" that, he says, only got "doors slammed in our faces." His smart, pugilistic flow was getting him nowhere fast, until the fateful night of both his son's birth and his grandmother's death, when an emotionally confused Royce performed at a show where he met a then-obscure Eminem. The two quickly became "like brothers," Royce says. A week later, they recorded the sinister tag-team "Bad Meets Evil," which ended up on Eminem's The Slim Shady LP. As Eminem's star rose, he pulled Royce up with him, even taking him on tour as a hype man. Royce soon signed with indie rap label Game Recordings, which led to a deal with Columbia. His action-packed debut Rock City (with production from DJ Premier and the Neptunes) will feature - who else? - Slim Shady. "I'll do anything for Slim, 'cause he did so much for me," Royce says. Loyalty might not have been worth much at the club, but so far, it's Royce's lucky charm in the music industry." - Vibe 9/01 // Updated, added the Rock City LP, peep "King of Kings"...
"Though Paid In Full, Eric B. and Rakim's debut album on Island is only just now being released, they have been street sensations ever since they first crashed onto the set over a year ago with "Eric B. Is President / My Melody." Powered by some of the funkiest beats since they heyday of James Brown, the rapper Rakim invited teenaged America to "Ch-Ch-Ch-Check out my melody" - an invitation that was accepted with great pleasure ... With summer once again upon us, Eric B. and Rakim have returned with their second single, "I Know You Got Soul," another super-funky item which begins ... "It's been a long time, I shouldna left you / Without a strong rhyme to step to" ... "Think of how many weak shows you slept through / Time's Up! I'm sorry I kept you" ... There is no secret to their success - it's about nothing but talent. Eric B. grew up in Elmhurst, Queens, New York .. he played trumpet and guitar as a youth and then graduated to the turntables when rap first surfaced in the late '70s ... By 1985 Eric was good enough to work as a mobile deejay for WBLS. It was at BLS that Eric met Marley Marl ("Mr. Magic's Rap Attack"), who has remixed "Eric B. Is President" and "My Melody" on Paid In Full." Check them out live at the Apollo in '91, cont'd below...
"Rakim himself was born William Griffin in Brooklyn ... He grew up in Wyandanch, Long Island ... An honor roll student, Rakim was writing rhymes and rhyming from the time he was in seventh grade ... He and Eric met and clicked right away... "We made a promise that our music had to be positive, strong, and different," remembers Rakim. "And I think we've kept our promise." ... "Surely there must have been something about the two of them. "My Melody," the first demo they ever made as a team, was bought by the first company they brought it to - Harlem's Zakia Records, who shortly thereafter licensed it to Island Records. When the record started to break nationally, Rakim was still in his last year of high school. With Paid In Full, Eric. B & Rakim demonstrate conclusively that, in their own words, they ain't no joke. In fact, they're on a mission..." - July, 1987
Memory Man is a DJ, producer and instrumentalist based in Austin, Texas. This Wu-Tang vs. D.I.T.C. mix pits two of New York's most respected and most influential crews against each other in an all-out blend of war. The focus is on battle rhymes and the groups' golden era era material, but there are a few exceptions. The tracks alternate between Wu-Tang MC's rhyming over D.I.T.C. beats and vice versa. Memory Man crafts this mix in an attempt to illustrate how evenly matched the Wu-Tang and D.I.T.C. really were - and still are to this day. Who you got? Happy 5th Anniversary to this mix.
"Skratch Bastid drops another classic mixtape for your ears, hips and feet. Right on time for your summer road trips, barbecues, and rooftop parties, The Entertainer delivers 50-minutes of classic style mixing with top-of-the-line skills, selection, and turntable expertise. In addition to taking a fine selection of some of the best songs, new and old, to have graced dancefloors around the world, Skratch Bastid also takes on remixing duties - showing off a few private remixes such as: Bob Marley vs. War "Get Up Stand Up + Slippin' Into Darkness (Skratch Bastid Rock Dis Funky Joint Remix)", Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne & Hudson Mohawke "Look At Hudson Mohawke Now (Skratch Bastid's Thunder Bay Blend)" and Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and Damien Marley "As we Enter The Gravel Pit (Skratch Bastid blend)" among others." Stream The Entertainer below and download the mix HERE.
Timeless Truth are two brothers (Oprimie39 & Superbad Solace) from Queens, New York. When you examine the geographical pinpoints of the development of Hip-Hop you come to understand how Queens is a critical incubator for the culture. The music, the art and the style of striving, struggling working class folks, along with a multi-ethnic population of Queens are the factors in creating a group such as Timeless Truth. Their perspectives are grounded in the reality of the hardwork required to make a living in the world's greatest city. "Dominican Diner" is dedicated to everyone who reps their culture unabashedly. To Queens, NYC, ‘Lo heads, vintage gear addicts, graff writers, and hip-hop fans all over the globe. The EP is entirely produced by Fafu and features guest appearances from Eliki and Maffew Ragazino. Listen to Timeless Truth's Dominican Diner EP below...
Released by Righteous Elohim Entertainment in 1997, North Carolina's KMS dropped "Sad Love Song" with a feature from Grey Matter and production by Sublime Rhymer. I think it's the better of the two tracks on this 12", but I've heard arguments for the B-Side's "Riot Gear," too. The track kicks off with the vocal sample from Prodigy of Mobb Deep on "Survival Of The Fittest" saying, "They better have the riot gear ready." I haven't heard the compilation, "Bless The Mic With The Gods," not sure if it was ever released? If you know more info, please lemme know. Peep the 12" below...
“Aspire To Inspire” is my life’s motto. It is also a symbol of my journey… my growth…my progression. This record is a feel good inspirational and motivational collection of songs, intended to uplift anyone who has ever had to overcome adversity or odds stacked against them. It is an honest audio journal of my goals, dreams, successes, joys, failures and words of encouragement to all who can relate to my story…coming from a grown man’s perspective. The ability to inspire others to strive to be better is one of life’s ultimate rewards. Let’s “Aspire To Inspire.” Peace." - Es
