Funkee Phlavaz: "Episodes 7-12" (1993)

Here are some more episodes of Funkee Phlavaz, undoubtedly the greatest show that most people never saw. There were allegedly 17 episodes back in 1993 or so, which ran on a station that handled programming from the students of Beverly Hills High School. The Alchemist hosted the first few episodes, but eventually "Funkee Phlavaz" recruited guest hosts that included Guru, the Pharcyde, Masta Ace, KRS-One and more. The program was produced by Adam Weissman, who is now an incredible art director at Stussy. You'll hear a diverse range of Hip-Hop & Dancehall on the episodes (you should be watching by now). Props all around, this is a baggy-clothed time capsule for an era not-so-forgotten, but a reminder we did weird shit, too! The soundtrack to our bad decisions was just better. Below are episodes 7-12, which features Funkdoobiest, Capital Tax, Guru, Illegal, Y'All So Stupid, Masta Ace, Lords of the Underground, KRS-One & more! Watch the videos below... Updated.

Marco Polo "What's The Digg?" (Mix)

Marco Polo's production revolves around his use of samples, and his style is somewhat comparable to that of Pete Rock and DJ Premier, the latter of which he names as his greatest influence. To give a more authentic effect to his production, he will individually sample drum sounds and arrange them to create his own "breaks." He often uses bass to enhance melodies he has sampled. In the "What's The Digg?" series, MIL compiles and DJ DJAZ mixes a bunch of Marco's production and samples to give a nice selection of tracks to showcase his production style. The mix features O.C., Ruste Juxx, Sean Price, Large Professor, Torae, Organized Konfusion and the relevant samples. You should definitely check out the mix below, and catch Marco Polo on tour if you're out in Europe. Enjoy...

A Tribe Called Quest "Oh My God" (Review, 1993)

I awoke up this morning with the outro to "Oh My God" playing in my head, "The title MC means Master of Ceremony / Some people who MC don't know what this term means." I didn't tweet it. Instead, I opened my laptop and here we are! Opening up The Source in '93, it says: "The pressure is on for this creative crew to devise another catchy, deep, bumping track to satisfy the high expectations of their fans. "Now the formula is this - me, Tip and Ali" chants Phife after his partner punches in, locked into the groove. The beat on the track is exceptional, with a snare that punches your headphone and begs your head to nod. The musical elements of the tracks are isolated, giving the cut a sparse feel. Q-Tip kicks it all off with some abstract rhymes, flipping chants and noises into the flow. He affirms that "Queens is the country / Jamaica is the place" and passes the mic to Phife, who breaks off some revealing, funny rhymes with his gritty voice." Watch and listen below.

This is the track that introduces Phife as the "funky diabetic;" as the Source says, "touching on his personal struggles with the disease." We've reached a different stage in our lives; at the time my ears were first introduced to Tribe, I was kid - sh!t, they were kids, too, right?! Time hasn't evaded any of us, we've all grown and life's trials and tribulations show in all our eyes. At once these artists were super-heroes to me, and if being an artist myself hasn't ruined the allure, seeing the lives of too many cut short has cast a shadow of doubt on a lot of things. I guess what I'm saying is, prayers up for Phife, and I'm not giving up hope for new Tribe music! Until then, keep on keepin' on.

Jeru The Damaja "Come Clean" (The Source, 11/93)

"Just when you thought quality and skill were things of the past, in steps one of the last true MCs - Jeru "The Damaja" - to save the day. Jeru, who comes from Brooklyn, is a charter member of the Gang Starr Foundation and he might be best remembered by his jaw-tapping debut on the duo's last LP. Now he steps into the area with a solo that is already causing quite a buzz. "Come Clean" has been quietly kicking through the underground for a few months now, but now, with nationwide distribution, everyone is going to hear what the fuss is about. You can't get any rawer than this. You haven't heard a beat so stripped down since "Sucker MCs," and the rhymes head straight for your throat. Over one of the most distinguishable percussion patterns ever laid down (it literally sounds like an amplified version of Chinese water torture) Jeru kicks some of the ruggest lyrics of the year." Peep the visuals to the DJ Premier-produced banger, "Come Clean," cont'd below ...

"Jeru is a hardcore brother who takes no shorts, but what separates him from other rappers is that he conveys that image with lyrical skill instead of the typical guns 'n guts favored by the less talented. The only violence he commits is on the mic - "Real, ruff and rugged / Shine like a gold nugget / Every time I pick up the microphone I drug it / Unplug it on chumps with the gangs a babble / Leave your nines at home and bring your skills to the battle" - and if you can't do the same, he calls you out. With a fat beat, fat skills and a voice willing to criticize and challenge popular conventions, Jeru does every thing a rapper is supposed to. You can't ask for more." - The Source

Joe Sinistr "Under The Sun" (The Source, 5/94)

"The funk returns to New York with the second track off the Terminator X compilation. Most will recall Joe Sinistr from the lyrical contributions he made on Erick Sermon's solo project. After putting "Pepsi on diets" and "devouring worlds like Galactus," Joe's mad verbal deconstructions got him off to a good start in the underground. And as "Under The Sun" proves, Joe has a lot in store for the future. Joe comes from the East Coast branch of the funk school. Which means that his tracks are gritty enough to play in the car, but not so overwhelming that they drown out his rhymes. The beat for "Under The Sun" - which is best described as one-half P-Funk and one-half "Star Trek The Next Generation" - sets the stage for Joe's "anything goes" lyrical expedition. Like Redman, his most obvious influence, when he turns on the mic he doesn't stop rhyming until the track is done. What does he rhyme about? To be honest, it's kind of hard to figure out. He hides his messages beneath layers of Kool Keith-like cryptic codes, lyrical dead ends and patchwork ideas. His rhyme scheme resembles what you would hear if you were to randomly go down your radio dial at three second intervals and record the results ... The emphasis here is not on what Joe actually says, it's on how he says it. And as long as the beats connect and his flow is on time, no one is going to be mad." - The Source (5/94) Peep the video for "Under The Sun" below. (Updated: new video link).

You Must Learn Episode 1: Jeru The Damaja "Sun Rises In The East"

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of a hip-hop record distinguished by its raw sound, uncompromising lyricism, and social commentary: Jeru the Damaja's debut album, The Sun Rises In The East. 1994 was a powerful, transformative year for hip-hop. Nas, OutKast, and Biggie Smalls each dropped their debut albums, while other more established artists released projects regarded both then and now as milestones in the genre. Jeru was only 21 years old when he recorded the The Sun Rises; 22 when it came out on Payday Records. What you're about to hear is Jeru the Damaja taking us track by track through his DJ Premier-produced debut album, delving into an array of subjects and stories such as: waiting and watching for Nas to create Illmatic; spending formative years with the members of the Wu-Tang Clan; the nature of Brooklyn pride; his inspiration drawn from his family, friends and predecessors, and the story of how he got his pet hamster. "You Must Learn" was produced and edited by Peter Oasis, written by Dharmic X, and executive produced by Evan Auerbach, with narration from Soul Khan. The intro was produced by DJ Flipout, and the artwork was designed by Kelly Green. Listen to the debut episode of "You Must Learn" below.

Non Phixion "The Future Is Now" (Deluxe Edition)

Featuring MCs Ill Bill, Goretex and Sabac with DJ Eclipse, Brooklyns Non Phixion made their first waves as a group in the mid-1990s with the indie singles Legacy (1996) and 5 Boros (1997), released on MC Serchs Serchlite Music. They fit perfectly into an era in New York City that had produced not only the Wu-Tang Clan, M.O.P. and Mobb Deep, but also underground firebrands and peers like Company Flow and the Arsonists. Aggressive, brazen, intelligent, and never predictable, they were impossible to ignore. Not-to-be-missed live shows helped to build their legend and fanbase throughout the end of the 90s. As Chris Faraone explains in the sets ridiculously comprehensive liner notes book (featuring interviews with all four group members): Non Phixion inspired fans to simultaneously deploy their smarts, bang their heads, and throw a fist. With their small but lauded body of collective work, Ill Bill, Sabac Red, Goretex, and DJ Eclipse introduced hip-hop to a unique brand of intelligent thuggery that looked past convenient enemies, and brought heat to the terrorists in government and beyond. From the groups formation in the mid-90s, to their breakup more than a decade later, Non Phixion kicked conspiratorial science that rings even truer now than it did before the aughts … After the initial buzz in the wake of their early singles, they were signed to, and subsequently parted ways with, both the Geffen and Matador labels in the late 90s and early 2000s. After those experiences, Non Phixion decided – in true and appropriate indie fashion – to go for self. The Future Is Now finally hit in 2002 on the groups Uncle Howie Records. In addition to new songs like the singles Rock Stars and Drug Music, the album also included previously-heard tracks from the groups journey: Black Helicopters and If You Got Love. Production on the album matched the MC talent perfectly, with tracks by Bills brother and Uncle Howie label-mate Necro, with additional work by an array of legends, including DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, and JuJu from the Beatnuts. With more of a decade in the rear-view mirror, The Future Is Now Premium Edition is the perfect way for fans to finally hear the stories about the forces that made – and eventually tore apart – Non Phixion, and how The Future Is Now came about.

Ak Skills "Check Da Flava" (12", 1996)

In 1996, Ak Skills (Queens, NY) was generating a solid buzz in the underground with his Lord Finesse-produced single "Check Da Flava." It was the first of his two 12" releases on Tru Criminal Records in 1996, and had "Nights of Fear" on the B-Side, which was produced by Buckwild. The 12" was featured in The Source's "Sure Shot Singles," saying "Ak Skills drops hazard with "Check The Flava," a straight out the underground joint worthy of attention. Its jazzy baseline embraces an organ-n-drum sequence while some on-point scratching gives it that extra touch." The single received some love in Beat Down Magazine too, echoing the sentiments of The Source. Also on Tru Criminal Records were Street Smartz, God Sunz, F.T., and the slept-on mixtape/compilation DJ Premier did called New York Reality Check 101. Listen to the full 12" below - what do you think?