This is a really dope 12" from Shadez of Brooklyn on Pandemonium Wrekordz in 1996. It's a AA-Side single, both tracks "Change" and "When It Rains It Pours" are super dope with production from Da Beatminerz. The Shadez crew repped out of Bushwick, Brooklyn and consisted of Chocolate Tye, Tee Black, Reverend Al and Rambo. Da Beatminerz handled the production on three 12" releases between 1996-1998, all of which were released on Pandemonium Wreckordz. In 2010, Chopped Herring Records pulled tracks from their catalog and released a dope "Pandemonium EP" that I recommend you pick up. In the meantime, you can listen to the 12" below and if you can dig up a copy, there's a nice Tape Sampler from '96 I'm looking for and will share when I get my hands on it.
Uploaded to Soundclouded and credited to Dwarf, this is a solid mix of tracks from the Fondle 'em Fossils days. The mix has tracks from independent, underground greats like Siah & Yeshua dapoED, MHz, Da Nuthouse, my family The Juggaknots, MF Grimm, DJ Eli & Shan Boogs, J. Treds, Mr. Live, The Cenubites, KMD, Rok One, MF Doom, The Arsonists, Lord Sear and more! Listen to the mix below...
DMX The Great ... "Many Milk MCs took the test of hypeness this month, but DMX The Great could not be matched. His tape had four cuts, all four were boomin' - dead up. No production credits, but somebody has nice beats and knows how to catch a variety of samples that change up the flavor of each cut. DMX's style sounds most like LL, Parish, and K-Solo, but he adds a personal style you might not catch it on paper. "Rappin' rhymin', reachin' climbin' / to the tip-top of hip-hop I'm like Simon / Do what I say do, go where I say go / Stop sweatin' me, lego my eggo." He states his claim as the real author of "Spellbound," not the other MC, who he calls "K-Stole it." Well, I don't know who bit who, but as far as DMX's skills go, the only thing K-Solo got up on him is a record deal." - Unsigned Hype in The Source, January 1991. There are some early DMX demos floating around the net, as well as X's Spellbound joint, but below is the song "Born Loser" from his single deal in '92-93 on Ruffhouse Records. Also... a quick Happy Born Day shout-out to DMX! One of the best to do it!
Mello Music Group drops the remixed version of Diamond District's "March On Washington" album. The remixed versions include production from 14KT, Oh No, L'Orange, Large Professor, Apollo Brown, Quelle Chris, Black Milk, Diamond D, Dopplegangaz, DJ Skizz, Nottz, Paul White, and Jonwayne. Exhale, that's a stacked list of producers! Props to Michael Tolle over at Mello Music Group, who also receives executive producer credit on the project. For fans of Diamond District, yes you absolutely wanna hear Uptown XO, yU, and Oddisee over these remixed beats. Stream the full project below...
Despite being released in 1994, Brother Arthur's "What You Gonna Do" has a bit of an old school flavor to it. It was released as the debut single on Chuck Chillout's C-Ya Entertainment label. A year later you'll also see the production credits for Prince AD & Pyscho Child's "Lyrical Flavor" credited to Chuck Chillout at C-Ya Entertainment. Along with Chuck, Brother Arthur, Big Geno & Big Sham have co-production credits too. "What You Gonna Do" has a nice sample from Heatwave's "Sho'nff Must Be Luv," not to mention the infamous "It's A New Day" break by Skull Snaps, which is what gives it that familiar old school vibe. Gang Starr later sampled "What You Gonna Do" on their record "1/2 & 1/2" with M.O.P.; you can hear Brother Arthur's vocals on the hook, "So whatcha gonna do since ya know now?!" "1/2 and 1/2" was on the Blade Soundtrack and the Full Clip 2CD. Aside from the production, the tracks have strong messages of unity and positivity, dig into the 12" below...
The latest in Blu's official "Soul Amazing" mixtape series: Part 4 features Blu verses originally on tracks with L'Orange, Johaz, Grouch and Eligh, Loop Snatchers, !llmind, Homeboy Sandman, Astronote, Dag Savage and lots more. If you've been following the career of Blu, we can agree his works released outside of collaborations with Exile need better sound quality, but Blu always comes correct on features, so it's refreshing to hear all these verses on concise mixes. Check out parts 1, 2 & 3, while you're here. Props to Blu, I hope all is well with him - more music please? Listen below...
"Pull out the bullhorn / Let's celebrate like Kunta was born / We elbowed our way inside Loud and got on," Ghostface Killah reminisces on Iron Man, the latest installment of the Wu saga. It's been three years since the group's debut opus, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and the rap world still shows no signs of growing tired of the Shaolin crew. Batting fifth in the Wu's solo lineup, Ghostface Killah attempts to keep the Clan's hitting streak going. Iron Man is like all the previous Wu-Tang solo albums in one sense: it's a family affair. As evidenced on the exhilarating "Daytona 500," which features original SI representatives Force MD's, Ghostface is at his best when he's armed with his right-hand man Raekwon the Chef and the constantly improving Cappadonna. But don't think that Starks can't hold his own weight. On the scathing "Wildflower," he verbally harasses an unfaithful lady-friend, and on the sucker MC-chopping "Poisonous Darts," Ghost decapitates all competition."
"Iron Man is not Cuban Linx II. Italian gangster-inspired stories have been replaced by introspective lyrics, haunting melodies and intense emotional moments. And save the old-school hip-hop inspired "Box In Hand," choruses have all but been eliminated, as outside collaborators provide the record with an almost old-school R&B edge ... Method Man's Grammy partner Mary J. Blige adds a touch of elegance on "All That I Got Is You." It's on this autobiographical ode that Ghost removes his iron-clad mask and provides us with insight into his troubled childhood, and even questions his own existence. "Sometimes I look up at the stars and analyze the sky / And ask myself was I meant to be here / Why?" Serving as the project's exclusive producer, the RZA does another masterful job, topping himself in terms of sonic diversity. With Iron Man, the Clan's former masked avenger, Ghostface Killah, has created a soulful chamber that deserves its rightful place as another cornerstone in the enduring Wu-Tang Clan legacy." - The Source, December 1996. A true classic!
In a industry starved for more legitimate female emcees, Eternia is a breath of fresh air. She's on a long list of talented female emcees who haven't received the recognition they deserve. If you're not familiar with Eternia, Get Caught Up with this mixtape presented by 2DdopeBoyz and Kevin Nottingham. Here's a message from Eternia: "These are not ‘pop’ songs. These are not video singles. These are not Top 10 hits. This is the heart and soul of why I do what I do when I do it. This is a personal offering. It’s my huge THANK YOU to all of the people who have supported the Eternia & MoSS: 'Road to Release' video episodes online over the last 6 months. I hand-picked these songs from the past decade, because I felt they were overlooked - they are the most personal to my life, and they reveal my growth as an artist." This was a fun project to work on! It not only features personal offerings from Eternia's back catalog, but also the exclusive single "Foul Child," produced by Mr. Cincinnati, as well as "Destiny," produced by Apathy from the still-unreleased "Eternia By Apathy," and "Day In The Life," from Eternia & MoSS' "At Last" ahead of its official release on Fat Beats Records. Big-ups to Shake & Meka at 2DBZ, Kevin Nottingham, Shamz, DJ Law and all the sites that helped push it to the masses. It was released 5 years ago today, listen/download it below...
Below is the inspiration for each track included on "Get Caught Up"...
