Eternia & MoSS "At Last" (Exclusive EP, 6/8/10)

This is an exclusive EP by Eternia & Moss, released in advance of their At Last LP on Fat Beats Records. At Last is entirely produced by MoSS and features appearances by some of Hip-hop’s elite, including Joell Ortiz, Termanology, Tona, Reef The Lost Cauze, Lady of Rage, Rah Digga, Maestro Fresh Wes and more. The EP features two remixes that are only available through this release: "It's Funny" featuring Ras Kass and "The BBQ," featuring Jean Grae and Tiye Phoenix. Lastly, there's a version of "The BBQ," which includes Eternia, Rah Digga, Lady of Rage, Tiye Phoenix & Jean Grae on one extended "mega" mix. Due to not having platforms like Bandcamp, Audiomack or Soundcloud at the time, the outdated Zshare links led to these exclusive tracks not having the same lasting power that they would today. So, it wouldn't surprise me if you've never heard these remixes. On a sentimental note, Eternia and I recorded and released Episode 1 of a video series called "Road To Release," with hopes of landing a record deal and a proper home for the Eternia & MoSS "At Last" album on June 8, 2009. We released this "At Last" EP on June 8, 2010 - 1 year to the day - after a successful promo campaign and signing a record deal with Fat Beats Records. I'm still very thankful to Fat Beats Records for holding true to their roots in vinyl and not only pressing the album on CD and 2LP, but also this exclusive vinyl EP. 5 years later, check it out below...

A Boom Bap Continuum (Mixtape, 2009)

The message originally released with 2009's A Boom Bap Continuum, “2tall, Clockwork and Kper are very proud to let you know that our new mix, A Boom Bap Continuum, is now live. We’ve worked very hard on this for most of the year and we hope you will enjoy it as much as we did putting it together. The mix features over 200 tracks by more than 50 producers all mixed, edited and mashed up in 80 minutes. The intention is simple: we wanted to highlight the lineage of hip-hop production and beat making from the turn of the millennium to the present day, and perhaps shed some light on the fairly quiet revolution that has been taking place under the surface of mainstream media in recent years.” Blogs have called this "one of the most educational mixes ever heard..." Listen below...

Now Futur "Origins Of The Villain" (Video Mix)

Origins Of The Villain is a video and audio mix that has played as an opening for MF DOOM shows in Europe. Put together by Sims, Mass and Alan the G of French collective Now Futur, it plays tribute to much of MF Doom’s source material, flipping his beats and recreating them using original samples and videos. Artwork by Julien Sens. While many MF Doom fans have already scoured the internet and their local record stores for his original sample material, hearing close to an hour of these samples alongside compelling visuals, makes this very much worthy of your time! In fact, I'd argue it's a one-of-a-kind tribute, and better than most mixes you'll hear. Updated video link + it's also HERE.

The Fugees "Rumble In The Jungle" (1997)

"Rumble In The Jungle" was released in 1997 on the soundtrack to the Oscar-winning documentary, "When We Were Kings;" an unforgettable account of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman's infamous fight in Zaire in 1974. Leon Gast's "When We Were Kings" is touted as the "untold story of the Rumble In The Jungle," and as the celebratory first single, The Fugees were joined by A Tribe Called Quest, John Forte, and Busta Rhymes. Peep Lauryn Hill's bars and the video for the song below...

"...The man's got a God complex

But take the text, change the picture

Watch Muhammad play the messenger like Holy Muslim scriptures

Take orders from only God

Only war when it's Jihad

See Ali appears in Zaire to reconnect 400 years

So we the people, dark but equal, give love to such things

To the man who made the fam' remember when we were kings..."

Children of the Corn "American Dream" (12", 1996)

Today's vinyl release is from the legendary collective, Children of the Corn. Children of the Corn was a crew from Harlem, NY that included Big L, Murda Mase (Mase), Killa Kam (Cam'ron), Bloodshed, and Herb McGruff. The details are fuzzy on whom else may have been included in the crew - I’ve heard conflicting stories - but at its core, these were the main members until Bloodshed (Cam's cousin) was killed in a car accident, and individually the crew went on to have solo careers. Their individual stories are well-documented so let’s get to the 12” - it’s from 1996 and has ‘American Dream’ on the A-side and ‘Harlem USA’ on the B-Side. It’s considered an ‘unofficial release’ with no label attached, but fans of the earlier work do gravitate towards this record. DJs appreciate the a cappella on 'American Dream' and there are 2 separate versions of 'Harlem USA' on the B-side: a Harlem version & an Uptown version. You can stream/download the full "American Dream" 12" below.

Professor P & DJ Akilles "All Year, Every Year: Winter/Spring"

Professor P & DJ Akilles are a critically acclaimed, international duo from Sweden that keep the fundamentals of hip-hop at the forefront of their music: dope rhymes and patterns from Professor P & DJ Akilles on the cuts and crisp, nostalgic production. Pro & Ak have great chemistry and you could probably throw a dart at any track in their catalog and catch the vibe, but I want to shine some extra light on their "All Year, Every Year" series. I love the song "Everything's Alright." They also have a nice feature from Rah Digga on the track "For The City," but FAR beyond that is the last track and last verse on the song "Sleep;" I can relate and a tear drops as I listen to type this...

"Earl Patrick McNease, I hope you're rapping in peace

If life is one thing, it's something like a passionate breeze

You supported every Pro & AK track we released 

The hip-hop activist is happy to teach ... about this artform

I read a comment last night that my made heart warm

I would bring it with me on this journey I embark on..."

"This thank you is way past its due date
Your love for the game was unconditional
Didn't  want the fame, you had a different role
Now the same lane is where I wish to go
Even though we never met in real life
I must have lost a friend from how this feel like
I must have lost a friend from how this feel like
Let's let your name echo through the still night
Now that you're .... Sleep."

- R.I.P. to my Brother, Praverb The Wyse (Earl Patrick McNease)

Supastition "Gold Standard" (Album Stream)

"Gold Standard" is the latest full-length album from North Carolina's most underrated lyricist, Supastition. With countless artists claiming to be the best - without having a catalog to back their words - Supastition speaks powerful words with the content to back him up! "Gold Standard" includes vocal features from Kenn Starr, Boog Brown, Audessey, and Supastition's group, Soundsci. Plus, production from Praise, MoSS, Rik Marvel, Veterano, Jonny Cuba and Croup. In support of the album, Supastition is embarking on a 60+ city tour with Blueprint! Follow Supastition to see all the cities and dates for the "King No Crown" Tour, and be sure to catch it when it comes to your town.

Jeru The Damaja "D. Original" (The Source, 6/94)

As far as real heads are concerned, 1994 is shaping up to be the year of the Damaja. Slowly and skillfully this brother has built up a rep that you just can't front on. And with this debut LP about ready to drop any day now, you can rest assured that the best is yet to come. "D. Original" is the type of record that people have in their minds when they talk about "taking it to the next level." From the kick drum intro to the panic-stricken background tones to the unorthodox paino that literally sounds like someone sat on the keys by accident, this record stands apart from anything available on the market today. With Jeru, hardcore meets and successfully subjugates the avant-garde. DJ Premier proves once again that this controlled chaos is his domain, and after just one listen to his latest sonic assault you'll feel like breaking somebody's jaw. Jeru's fraud-free flow continues to knock lightweights off the mic at will. Make no mistake, Jeru is the true "dirty rotten scoundrel" and unlike those other pretenders, he makes records for the homies who are here now. - The Source, June '94 // Check out the video for Jeru The Damaja's single "D. Original" below...