Tony Touch "Hip Hop 62: Ready For Impact?" (Mixtape, 1999)

Tony Touch asked if you were Ready For Impact? with Hip Hop 62 on Tape Kingz in 1999. This was the last tape from Tony Touch in the millenium! The mix features tracks from Black Rob, The Notorious B.I.G., D.I.T.C., The Mad Rapper & Eminem, U-God, Jay-Z, Rakim, Truck Turner, Mos Def, Dr. Dre, Tash, Method Man & Redman, Planet Asia, Inspectah Deck, The LOX, Mase, Erick Sermon, Pharoahe Monch, Q-Tip, Raekwon, Natural Elements, Canibus & Rakim, Xzibit, and more! Dig into it...

MoSS "Marching To The Sound Of My Own Drum" (Videos)

Back in November 2015, after years of collaborations with artists like Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Obie Trice, Sean Price, Kool G Rap, Eternia and countless others, Toronto-based producer MoSS released his debut producer album entitled "Marching To The Sound Of My Own Drum". Since the beginning of his career, the Canadian beatsmith, record digger and music connoisseur has made a name for himself with a unique, signature sound. On this record he showcases what he's capable of, backed by an all-star team that features AZ, Havoc, Slum Village, Onyx, Inspectah Deck, Ill Bill, Skyzoo, Guilty Simpson and 20+ other legendary MC's. A few years after its original release, Tuff Kong Records has decided to team up with MoSS to bring you this masterpiece on wax. For the occasion, MoSS also added an unreleased bonus track called "We Here" that features Smif-N-Wessun, along with "Emotional Redux" featuring Big Gov, Guilty Simpson, Jon Connor, V-Stylez and Willie The Kid that's been pressed to 7". If you missed this one, it's not too late! Grab a dust mask...

Cage "Purple Rain Mix CD" (2004)

Cage's "Purple Rain" Mix CD was released exclusively with his "Home Movies" DVD in 2004. The "Homie Movies" was a limited edition DVD, which gave behind the scenes looks at The Revenge of the Robots Tour. Scenes included a trip to the High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, a cypher with the Weathermen at WKCR in NYC and various live performances, in-stores and whatever else they were doing for shits and giggles at the time. As for the Purple Rain Mix CD, it features various exclusives with Cage, Yak Ballz, Leak Bros and more. A personal favorite of mine is Cage's "Ballad of Worms," which flips Built to Spill's "I Would Hurt a Fly" into an eerie soundscape to deliver a story about his obligation to a sick and dying girlfriend as a metaphor for his real life relationship with hip-hop and music. It's also said to be a love ballad to Zelda from "Pet Semetary," who dies from spinal meningitis. Remember when music had this many layers? In the words of Cage, "Enjoy kiddies!"

Revisiting an Old Playlist

Diggin' through the crates tonight, curating a golden era vibe in the crib. It started with some Gang Starr, Nas, and Mobb Deep, then went deeper underground to some Adagio!, Natural Elements, Troubleneck Brothers and more. It reminded me to 1) update this site more (I know!) and 2) that I did create a playlist a while back that no one probably ever heard, lol. So, I pulled it up and sure enough: Natural Elements, M.O.P., Troubleneck Brothers, Noreaga, Nas, Big Pun, Gang Starr, Phife, The Whooliganz, Real Live, Cormega & more ... More or less, I come back to a lot of the same artists over time, even if the songs from said artists change up. If you're 1 of the 190 plays on the playlist, props to you, lol ... otherwise, give it a listen. There are some other playlists on this site, click the tags & I'll start making some more ... comment if you want obscure, themed or more current.

Black Thought "Streams of Thought, Vol.1" EP (Album Stream)

With Black Thought of The Roots going up to Funk Flex recently, he lit a spark and opened the eyes of countless new fans - his freestyle was unquestionably a viral moment. Regrettably, he dropped his collaborative project ("Streams of Thought Vol.1") with 9th Wonder & The Soul Council amidst the beef between Drake & Pusha T, not to mention the same day as Kanye dropped his project (I don't even know the title of it). Bar for bar, Black Thought is your favorite rapper's favorite rapper and everyone knows it. I salute Method Man for trading verses with Thought up at Sway In The Morning, that was another viral moment to a lesser degree. 'Streams of Thought Vol.1' is Thought's debut EP and will be first in a series of 3, which features Rapsody, Styles P & more. He adds, “None of this is my solo album. It’s just a chance to see me in a different light doing a different thing.”

Pusha T "The Story of Adidon" (Drake Diss)

"Since you name-dropped my fiancée

Let 'em know who you chose as your Beyoncé

Sophie knows better as your baby mother

Cleaned her up for IG, but the stench is on her

A baby's involved, it's deeper than rap

We talkin' character, let me keep with the facts

You are hiding a child, let that boy come home

Deadbeat mothafucka playin' border patrol, ooh"

A signature "Yuugh!" from Pusha T on this whole "Story of Adidon" track, no question! I'm not above being petty, for sure, or else I wouldn't even post this audio, but the questions a beef like this raises are more important than the beef itself. Rules? Boundaries? Codes? Now, as layered an MC as Pusha T is, I suspect he only went low because he knows more than we do, or else he wouldn't take these shots at 40; he's above that ... no? So, while I won't post about it again (unless another great track accompanies it), we're gonna see it play out live. Maybe questions will be answered, because, ya know, Hip-Hop is still young; we're learning as we're going. This may end up as a blueprint for beef moving forward. At least for mainstream artists that try to use their celebrity. Again ... "Yuugh!" Read the room and walk away, Drake. Photo courtesy of Purple PR. Listen below...

Wyclef Jean "The Carnival" (Classic Material, XXL)

Perhaps an interesting choice to touch on Wyclef's debut here, but listen ... I have very fond memories of the Fugees' smash 'The Score' and even Salaam's portion of 'Blunted on Reality.' When the summer of '97 hit, it was Wyclef's 'The Carnival' - not the whole album, but definitely the front end of the project got a ton of burn. The production on "Apocalypse" and the crossover anthem "Guantanamera" gave me lots to discuss with the Cuban family I was staying with while working a night job in Manhattan between semesters in college. You can't deny Clef's talent as a "writer, instrumentalist, producer and mastermind behind the group's (The Fugees) sound." Sure enough, the album went double platinum, and even if "Gone Til November" and "We're Trying to Stay Alive" weren't MY favorite tracks on the album, he had a fresh blueprint and "if an immigrant kid from Haiti can become an international superstar responsible for two classics, then anything can happen." Word. Read more below and salute to Salaam Remi and Warren Riker for the incredible mixing and mastering on the project. Much love to L Boogie. Enjoy the video to "Guantanamera" below... 

Benny The Butcher "A Friend Of Ours" (Album Stream)

Following his debut Butcher On Steroids through Griselda Records, Benny brings some of the usual suspects with him for his latest release, A Friend Of Ours. Guest features include 38 Spesh, El Camino, Dark Lo, Skyzoo and Dufflebag Hottie. Production comes from Rick Hyde, Chup, DJ Shay, and Marc Spano. Benny keeps in line with his Mafia inspirations by using cover art from The Sopranos, as well as the 1997 film Donnie Brasco as the source of the album's title and opening skit. Listen...