$tay Puft "$tay-Wu: Voltron" (Mixtape)

Los Angeles' $tay Puft put this mix together earlier this year, one of many in this similiar vein of paying homage to one of the greatest hip-hop collectives of all-time, Wu-Tang Clan. This particular chamber features joints "stitched together" from the first wave of Wu-Tang Clan solo albums. Roughly around the time between Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Wu-Tang Forever. We're talking Liquid Swords, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Tical, Iron Man, etc. The early years were clearly something so special, specifically how RZA curated the sound so meticulously for each MC. There will never be anything like it again. Anyhow, the music speaks for itself, which is great, because this is just some shit you stumble upon late at night diggin' through Bandcamp. Follow the breadcrumbs...

The Roots "Tipping Point" (July 13, 2004)

A band is usually only as good as its front man. The Roots are no different. Take their last album Phrenology. When Black Thought stuck to a subject (for example, "Pussy Galore" and the first four minutes of "Water"), Phrenology's appeal went beyond the rock fans who dug "The Seed 2.0." So it's pretty safe to say that as Thought goes, so do The Roots. And on the Illadelph crew's sixth studio album, The Tipping Point, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter delivers some of the best work of his underrated career. Sounding invigorated by the turbulent political climate, he condemns Dubya's foreign policy on "Why? (What's Going On?)" rhyming, "Young teen joins the Marines, said he'd die for the corps / Inducted in the government's war / Is it for land or money?" However, The Tipping Point is not about heavy-handed preaching. Producing entertaining music with a message is one of Hip-Hop's greatest challenges--ask your favorite struggling, "conscious" artist--but The Roots manage to pull it off. Even on "I Don't Kare," one of the band's most club-friendly beats to date, Tariq spits, "The police known the green, black and red are too strong to control." With their political agenda satisfied, The Roots go back to '88 with "Boom!" a vicious track akin to the Bomb Squad's chaotic, yet melodic barrage of sound. On the final two verses, the skillful mimicry extends to the mic, as Thought impersonates Big Daddy Kane's and Kool G Rap's voices and flows, down to the very last lisp. Such reverence for the past is admirable, but sometimes The Tipping Point goes off the deep end. Tariq veers off topic on "The Web," seemingly freestyling over a dull drum-and-bass heavy track. Also, while "Din Da Da" and "Melting Pot" are impressive instrumentals, at a combined twenty minutes in length, they disrupt the album's momentum. But those missteps don't spoil The Roots' most entertaining album since 1999's Things Fall Apart. With minimal cameos, skilled lyricism and topical rhymes abound, The Roots front man takes center stage on The Tipping Point. And that's to the benefit of everyone in the band. - The Source (Sept., 2004). Revisit The Tipping Point below...

The full review in The Source and more are below...

DJ Shortkut "Rekonstrukted Elements" (Mixtape, 1998)

​Versatile. Accomplished. Legendary. Jonathan Cruz aka DJ Shortkut is driven by passion for every genre of music. Shortkut began his career in San Francisco, California in 1987 as a mobile sound-system, progressing on to competing in World DJ Championships since 1994. He has established himself as a professional DJ and global jet setter showcasing his trend setting performances. DJ Shortkut,  is a member of 3 of the most influential DJ crews in history: The Invisibl Skratch Piklz, World Famous Beat Junkies and The Triple Threat DJs. As a seasoned veteran in battle DJ competitions, he is responsible for creating some of the most influential turntable routines of all time, literally birthing new techniques and innovations to the turntablist culture, while maintaining dance floors internationally playing the latest in music spanning countless genres. Rekonstruketed Elements was released in 1998 on cassette tape, and it's an amazing mix of original tracks reconfigured into the hip-hop tracks that sampled them. Enjoy his Rekonstrukted Elements below...

Take It Personal Podcast "Tribute to 1994, Part 2"

The Take It Personal crew returns for the second installment in their phenomenal tribute to our (yes, mine too!) favorite year in hip-hop, 1994. This mix in this episode features tracks from Troubleneck Brothers, Craig Mack, Ill Al Skratch, Funkmaster Flex, Mic Geronimo, Nas, Brand Nubian, Kurious, The Beatnuts, Urban Thermo Dynamics, The Fugees, Digable Planets, Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs, The Roots, O.C., Organized Konfusion, Gang Starr, M.O.P., Gravediggaz, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, A.D.O.R., Big L, The Notorious B.I.G., Da Youngstas, Jeru The Damaja, and more. Listen below as they make the case for 1994 as the greatest year in Hip-Hop music...

Funkmaster Flex / Cipha Sounds "Big Dawg Vol.1" (Mixtape, 1998)

Another Tape Kingz release, from 1998, with Funkmaster Flex presents Cipha Sounds, Big Dawg Vol.1. Nothing exceptionally rare or anything, but a nice mix of East Coast flavors from the late 90s. Joints from Busta Rhymes, DMX, Cam'ron, Smif-N-Wessun, The LOX, The Notorious B.I.G., Mad Skillz, Charlie Baltimore, Gang Starr, Jay-Z, Black Rob, Mase, The Firm, and more. I've been feeling a lot more lately how nostalgia is a true mindf#ck, because it's not necessarily fond memories of the music itself, but those Tunnel days were just so important to what was happening on the streets and in the mixtape culture. Flex and Ciph were tearing it down and these are just some of the records that were blasting off. Noreaga credits "I'm Leaving" -- off The Firm Album -- as the track that jumpstarted his entire solo career. "All For The Love" by Jadakiss (The Lox) was so serious, not to mention "Stop Being Greedy" by DMX and "Black Trump" by Smif-N-Wessun and Raekwon. When you listen to these tracks through that lens, it adds another layer to the music/memories. Dig in...

Apollo Brown "This Must Be The Place" (Instrumental Album)

Prolific Michigan producer Apollo Brown transposed the happiness he’s found in his career, family, and circle of friends into his latest album: This Must Be the Place. Brown’s first instrumental project since the grimy noir, Thirty Eight (2014), This Must Be the Place is a continuation of the celebrated Clouds (2011) and a departure from it. Clouds was melancholic boom-bap made for the fall, the soundtrack to a ruminative walk through a leaf-strewn park beneath gray skies, but This Must Be the Place trades somberness for warm nostalgia and glimmers of hope. Brown offers moments for reflective gratitude and portals of escape through new permutations of East Coast-rooted boom-bap, his drums hitting with concussive force as snares crack like ice on midwestern lakes. Though Brown is a consummate and discerning crate digger, he sought different source material for This Must Be the Place. After soliciting compositions from ten trusted sound designers, Brown holed up in his basement home studio, looping, chopping, and deconstructing their work to create 21 wide-ranging productions. For every instrumental that inspires reflection, another transports you above the clouds and to the cosmos. At every sonic turn, This Must Be the Place can remind you to appreciate living the life you imagined or push you as you navigate there. Listen via MMG below...

DJ Clue "Show Me The Money" (Mixtape, 1997)

Another one from Queens' DJ Clue from 1997, Show Me The Money. Featuring dope exclusive freestyles from The Lox, Mase, Nature, Jay-Z, and Sauce Money, plus the worldwide exclusive of "Hypnotize" from The Notorious B.I.G.; joints from Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, Buckshot, Capone-N-Noreaga, Cormega, Rampage, Cru, Allure & Nas, Mary J. Blige, Large Professor, Genovesee, Redman, Darkside and more. Lots of joints on this one! I remember running "Pronto" from Cru super hard that whole summer. "Genovese Thesis" too. Rest In Peace, Notorious B.I.G. Listen to the mix below...

Noreaga "N.O.R.E." (July 7, 1998)

No, this ain't no Pete Rock & CL Smooth type break-up. Noreaga has been forced by uncontrollable circumstances to release an album without the lyrical assistance of his partner Capone. Last year, the duo's critically-acclaimed debut, The War Report, was faithfully bumped in the underground, but was slept on like a Featherbed pillow by the mainstream. Still, after Capone's incarceration, Noreaga continued to hold down the fort. With a guest appearance on the Firm Album ("I'm Leaving") that couldn't go unnoticed, a solo project from Nore quickly became highly anticipated. With Capone's blessings, enter N.O.R.E. Representing Iraq (Lefrak), Queens to the fullest, Noreaga proves with the title track/first single that he can hang with the rest of the lyrical masterminds that have come outta the illustrious borough. What separates him from the rest? It's his signature characteristic, his language, his own form of Norebonics if you will. He even takes it to the next level on "Superthug," where his trademark "what, what" is repeated throughout the chorus. This unconventional cut will take about three listens to grow on you before you can appreciate how hot it is. Also blazing are the album's posse cuts: the anthemic "Banned From TV," which features Nature, Big Pun, Cam'ron, Styles and Jadakiss of The Lox; the rousing "The Assignment," on which Nore trades verses with newcomer Maze and Flipmode Squad's Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star; and the cinematic collaboration with Nas ("Body In The Trunk"). Ladies don't fret, Nore's got a couple songs for you too. He gets sincere on "The Way We Life" with Chico DeBarge; and on the introspective "I Love My Life," blessed by the crooning harmony of Bad Boy vocalist Carl Thomas, the charming thug validates his crossover appeal. Momentary slip-ups like the disappointing remake of Kool G Rap killer kut ("40 Island"), and the fraudulent party filler of "Fiesta," are easily overlooked as Nore rises to the top all by his damn self. Ya heard! - The Source. The album was well worthy of this 4-mic rating!

Original review in The Source magazine below...