EPMD "Business Never Personal" (30th Anniversary)

Thumpin' fat, no-bullshit hardcore funk is the best description for this LP. Erick and Parrish are back, catchin' mad wreck and solidifying their position as one of the premier groups in hardcore hip-hop. The trademark EPMD slow-flow rhyme style and no-nonsense lyrics combined with their no-nonsense delivery hit you like a Tek-9 slug. And with an abundance of funky hard beats, this one promises to keep your neck jerkin'. "Crossover" deals with the sellout mentality in rap. "Cummin' At Ya" is a duet with the diggedy-Das EFX that has all four MC's flippin' shit over a fat slow beat. And "Boon Dox," with it's exploding bass, is simply the Long Island anthem. Don't forget to check for "Play The Next Man," warning of scandalous females, and "Headbanger," the Hit Squad posse cut that features MVP performances by K-Solo and Redman. Business Never Personal is EPMD at their best. With 12 cuts of pure slammin' funk, there's not going to be much fast-forwarding on this one. Chalk up another gold dish for the Hit Squad in '92. Swayze kids. - The Source (March, 1992). I got this tape at Sam Goody in the Metro Mall in Queens. You had to walk the tracks to the mall, come out through the parking lot or walk down the hill which was a no-go in the winter. I think I might've lost my copy and got another through Columbia House... but that's a whole other story. In any event, I remember taping a copy of "Headbanger" from the radio and waiting eagerly for the album's release. I credit 1994 as my favorite year in hip-hop, but my excitement for music in 1992 was probably at its highest heights. Business Never Personal was one of the reasons why, revisit the album below...

The review in The Source, ads and more below...

Wordsworth "The Fragility of Life" (Album Stream)

Wordsworth chases the success of both his top ten Amazon selling book, What Words Are Worth Vol. 1, as well as his appearance on Netflix's animated series, Peabody & Sherman, with his new album, The Fragility of Life. The Brooklyn native, first known for his guest appearances on hip-hop albums from Blackstar (Mos Def and Talib Kweli), A Tribe Called Quest's gold selling LP, The Love Movement, and co-creating MTV’s The Lyricist Lounge Show, delivers a quality body of work for his latest effort, that’s produced entirely by UK producer, Kelzwiththeheat. The Fragility of Life boasts guest appearances from his frequent collaborator Masta Ace, along with Jessica Care Moore, Supastition, Erv Ford, Xperience, Adanita Ross, Pearl Gates, JSoul, Finale, Jacqueline Constance, Pav Bundy, and upcoming Baton Rouge talented group Zues and B.E.A.N. To boot, the LP is accompanied with videos for album cuts, "Skin," "The Teacher Song," and "Thank God for Waking Up." Listen below...

Eric B. & Rakim "Follow The Leader" (July 26, 1988)

There's a scene in Spike Lee's latest movie, School Daze, in which a group of college girls are planning their next party. "And none of that awful rap music," declares their leader. "But I like Run DMC," pleads one, subconsciously acknowledging their status as crossover artists supreme. She might just as easily have said Eric B & Rakim. Eric B & Rakim are the Run DMC of their day, the ghetto upstarts turned table rousers, overdressed in customized track suits. On a scale of bragging as art form they rate a unanimous nine out of ten, bejewelling themselves both physically and lyrically with an ornate series of chains, rings and rhymes. Follow The Leader, a recent Sounds single of the week, stands out on its own. A bedevilling combination of The Twilight Zone and just about every insidious '70s bassline that you can't quite shake off. It's brutally impersonal, a vacant lot of sound that is as disturbing as Rakim's menacing rapping. In short, a hard act to follow. That said, Rakim's still up top -- still out on a limb, getting paid and generally setting the trends. The unique, flowing dynamics of his rap only serve to show us just how far behind the rest of the nation's rappers are lagging. In a world where rap goes in cycles, Rakim is the cyclist supreme, easing his way up the hills the others are still stumbling on. The rest of the album is equally exhilarating -- Eric B primes his music with hip House-ish basslines, musical gelignite in his capable hands, while Rakim just chills you to the core with his calculated responses. Along with Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions, Eric B & Rakim are at the forefront of rap's continued musical rebellion. There are no tricks, no powerplays or revolutionary uprising, just a series of irrepressible, unstoppable dance explosions. Bomb the bass and get it on. - Sounds, 1988. Where does it rank in their catalog?

"...Easing his way up the hills the others are still stumbling on." Well said.

"Caught In The Middle of A 3-Way Mix" (Tribute to "Paul's Boutique", 2012)

Several years ago, Solid Steel DJs Cheeba, Moneyshot and Food had the idea of collaborating on a version of the Beastie Boys' Paul’s Boutique album, made entirely from the original sample sources. The result is titled ‘Caught In The Middle Of A 3-Way Mix’ - each of them have taken a third of the album to work on and combined their efforts into a mix that will make you hear it in a new way. Aside from the original sample sources they’ve included commentary from the Beasties, vintage interviews, demo versions and much more. The mix was over half way completed when they heard the tragic news of MCA‘s death in May, 2012, so the impetus to finish it was instantly doubled and new meaning was given to the project. It goes without saying that this is also a tribute to Adam Yauch and the legacy he left behind. Check out their tribute to the Beastie's Paul's Boutique below...

Knowledge the Pirate "Wolves Don't Eat With Shepherd's"

If I have the opportunity, I'll always just let Big Ghost tell it, so... "I tried to tell y'all this year was bout to be different. I first heard Pirate on some my favorite Roc Marciano records… I already knew son was nice. But when I heard his debut album Flintlock… I was blown away by how full and how cohesive the project was. This was still in the earlier part of the current underground rap renaissance we been in the midst of for the last while now. At that time…within this wave it was only a few artists droppin' ALBUM albums. It was still mostly EPs/mixtape type joints or less refined examples of what you might call “albums”…but what [they] did on that was produce a masterpiece. That might really be my favorite album of 2018 that I wasn't part of. Knowledge dropped 3 more impeccably crafted pieces of art since then.. But Flintlock was still the one I appreciated the most. Until this album was completed. This ain't to say that I feel it exceeds or is better than anything my brother Knowledge did before…but this is a continuation of his legacy. It's actually something we started working on in early 2019 n took our time in piecing together thru many conversations while overcoming personal hardships n losses. There is a soul to this album. We hope that soul speaks to you. I would say it was cooked to perfection but wolves don't cook what they kill. So we gon serve this plate to you raw..." That said, listen to their collaborative LP below...

Joey Bada$$ "2000" (Album Stream)

Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ was probably one of the most slept on artists during the height of the blog era... Today, he unleashes his third studio album 2000. Serving as the follow up to his 2017 album All-Amerikkkan Badass, 2000 arrives just a little over a month after the 10 year anniversary of Joey Bada$$’ debut, critically acclaimed mixtape 1999 (released June 2012). During an interview with VIBE at the 2022 BET Awards, Joey spoke on what fans can expect while listening to the new LP: “On the new album 2000, what should be expected is that classic Joey sound, you know what I’m saying? That authentic Joey. Everything that you want out of Joey Bada$$, you’re going to get from this project right here. I’m excited for this.” Spanning a total of 14 tracks, the Brooklyn lyricist joined forces with some solid features that contributed greatly to the album’s sound. Not only did he call on J.I.D. and Larry June, Joey linked with Chris Brown, Capella Grey and Westside Gunn. - Revolt. The release of 2000 marks 1932 days since the release of Joey’s sophomore album, ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$. It is the longest interval between any of his projects. Stream it...

Take It Personal Podcast "Tribute to 1994, Part 3"

Do you need more proof that 1994 was the greatest year in Hip-Hop music? Well, the trilogy is complete with the 3rd installment in Take It Personal's tribute to 1994. Episode 111 features music from Organized Konfusion, Public Enemy, Y Society, Dredd Scot, UMC's, Fu-Schnickens, Lords of the Underground, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Lord Finesse, Common, Mad Flava, Brand Nubian, A Tribe Called Quest, Redman, Artifacts, Mic Geronimo, Nas, World Renown, Kurious, O.C., KRS-One, Hard 2 Obtain, House of Pain, M.O.P., Freddie Foxxx, The Legion, Bahamadia, Gang Starr, Eddie F, The Notorious B.I.G., KMD and more! So much great music, 1994 was amazing. Say less, listen more...

Puff Daddy & The Family "No Way Out" (25th Anniversary)

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Puff Daddy & The Family's classic debut album, No Way Out. Diddy took to his social media to share the following message, "Biggie inspired me to become an artist and make this album, so it's bittersweet to look back on such a pivotal turning point in my life and career that turned Bad Boy into an unstoppable dynasty and cemented our place in Hip Hop history! To have countless hit records from so many timeless artists that became global superstars, it will be hard for anyone to ever create a moment in music that changed the culture like No Way Out!" Puff makes a good point... his spirit to succeed after such a tragedy with the passing of The Notorious B.I.G. was an incredible moment in music. Not just "I'll Be Missing You," but the whole album from top to bottom. It's clear when you listen back -- even all these years later -- the original direction of the album was different before B.I.G.'s passing. The original title was alleged to be "Hell Up In Harlem," a title that wouldn't been marketed the same after such a loss. There are a few references in the album itself, as well as a different energy from Puff's cast of superstars called "Family" when originally they were gonna be called "Goodfellas." Subtle changes like that change the whole presentation of the album. There was an ad in Billboard (October, 1997) taken out by Clive Davis at Arista that said, "With "I'll Be Missing You" and "Mo Money Mo Problems," Sean "Puffy" Combs joins only The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Boyz II Men in succeeding himself at #1. These two singles, plus "Can't Hold Me Down" and "Hypnotize" make Bad Boy the first label since Motown to have its first four #1s occur in the same year. This calendar year, Bad Boy has held the #1 position on the Hot 100 Chart for 22 weeks, accounting for nearly 60% of this year's #1 hits. Since the label's inception, every album released by Bad Boy has been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum, including Puff Daddy's #1 debut album No Way Out, which is now approaching triple platinum. It's truly an extraordinary year of achievement for an extraordinary artist, producer and label. And it's only September." It was Puff's 'can't stop, won't stop' attitude that was the blueprint to his success. When there's no way out, you make it happen... Revisit Puff's classic album below...

Yo, the sun don't shine forever / But as long as it's here...