Lloyd Banks "Victory" (Classic Freestyle, 2002)

Sometimes I go back and relisten to the old G-Unit, LOX and Dipset mixtapes, amazed at how much content was put out in that era. It's mind boggling! One of the standouts is the Victory freestyle from the punchline king, Lloyd Banks. Years back Banks explained why it was undoubtedly his biggest mixtape song ever: "That has to be overall the most–the biggest freestyle I had as far as impact wise. Even DJ Clue will tell you that’s when he felt I went from being a mixtape dude to the next dude they expect to pop from the mixtapes… Honestly, I knew what I was following behind. Biggie was one of my favorites. When I did ‘Victory,’ everybody knew that was one of his biggest verses. So to fall behind him, I knew there was pressure behind it. I just wanted to add a different feel. At that time, I was thinking punchline wise. A lot of people used to ask me, ‘Yo you going to run out before the album,’ but when I write naturally, I write witty. I write from the perspective of being different. So, that was one thing that never troubled me. There was a few lines [I liked]. I said, ‘I think I’m the last rapper to scare n*ggas since Craig Mack.’ There was even the Master P line and its funny because I have 100 percent support for Master P, but his sneaker was [ugly] at the time.” Banks adds, "That was the first freestyle I performed. Not only did it help me as far as my recognition goes, but it helped me performance wise cause I got used to being by myself for a whole verse. It’s hard to keep people in tuned for a whole verse with no chorus–on a mixtape too. The breakdown toward the end of the verse, is when I learned over time you can’t rap the same bar cadence throughout 50 bars, you got to at some point change it up." Banks ends it by saying, "I put my all into that, bar for bar.” - via Rap Radar. Happy Born Day to Banks, listen to Victory below...

Nomadic "The Journey" (Album Stream)

A nice boombap sound from Miami MC, Nomadic, on his album "The Journey." I don't know much about Nomadic, but I do know Veks and BBZ Darney, who have worked on projects I've enjoyed, so it wasn't a major surprise when the kid was spitting' over some solid production. To let Nomadic tell it, "Welcome to the metaphysical, highly lyrical, multi-dimensional brain waves of an extraterrestrial on the microphone." Take a chance, give it a listen. I supported the album & copped a physical CD, too. (Disclaimer: his physical CD does not look like the image above, it needs to be repackaged). Listen...

DJ Whoo Kid & Stretch Armstrong "Unbreakable" (Mixtape, 2001)

After the success of DJ Whoo Kid & Stretch Armstrong's Murda Mixtape series, they returned to collaborate on Unbreakable, a mixtape released in 2001. The mix stands out in my mind because it highlighted the then-beef between House of Pain's Everlast and Eminem, who exchanged a few shots back and forth on record. It's interesting when you consider that the mix tape was Hosted by Eminem, lol. I guess it's clear where they fell on the beef. The rest of the mix includes freestyles from Em, D12, Prodigy and Franchise, as well as tracks from Xzibit, Beanie Sigel, Snoop Dogg, Sticky Fingaz, Memphis Bleek, Black Rob, Nature, Capone-N-Noreaga, Shyne, Dr. Dre & more. Listen below...

Eddie F. & The Untouchables "Let's Get It On" (1994)

Eddie F is from Mount Vernon (NY) and made a name for himself in the late 80s with production on Heavy D's Livin Large, Big Tyme and Peaceful Journey albums. He was also associated with fellow Mount Vernom natives Pete Rock & CL Smooth and is credited with creating the first "featured artist remix," where a track was musically reworked and replaced by an entirely new track along with a featured rap artist. It's no surprise that Diddy was said to have lived with Eddie F in his home studio in the early stages of Puff's A&R position at Uptown Records. He went on to be VP of A&R at LaFace Records and helped manage Usher, OutKast, TLC and more. In that same time, he released Eddie F & The Untouchables' album Let's Get It On on Motown Records. The compilation featured the only known in-studio collaboration of 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. at the time on the title track which also featued Heavy D, Spunk Bigga, and Grand Puba. They spit bars over the dope sample of Barry White’s “You’re the One I Need.” The 12" was serviced to DJs and included the acapella which was definitely a gem, pre-internet lol. Check out the single "Let's Get It On" below...

Kevin Casey "Live From New York: 1994-2001" (Mixtape, 2009)

Kevin Casey presents Live From New York; a mixtape/compilation made up of records released between 1994 and 2001 by New York artists. "A forty-six song answer to the question: What was a good time for hip-hop?” - Sasha Frere-Jones, The New Yorker. I was in the middle of the roll-out for Eternia's project on Fat Beats when this project originally hit my inbox in 2009. With a co-sign from someone I respected, I popped it in my iPod (remember those?) and made my trips back and forth to Queens from Brooklyn. Kevin Casey wasn't a name I'd recognized, but he did a very solid, technical job of piecing the music and vocal samples together for this project. He curated a nice vibe and gave listeners a look back at a specific time period in New York. Reminisce with this one, as I am, and hopefully you'll be inspired to put in your own hustle today. Has he released anything else?

Shortfyuz "Lostsol '96" (Album Stream)

ST. Records producer Shortfyuz has been making beats his whole life. He began as a kid in the early 90's making beats for Boston Legends like Krumbsnatcha and The Wiseguys. Fast forward a few years later, Shortfyuz teamed up with Termanology in 2013 to release the collaboration album “G.O.Y.A.” which became a well sought after hip hop gem. With features from Action Bronson, Inspectah Deck, N.O.R.E., Sheek Louch, Tony Touch, Reks, Sway and more. ‘G.O.Y.A.’ was quickly followed up with the release of a 9 song EP ‘Mas G.O.Y.A.’ which provided more flavor of beats and rhymes from the rap duo. Shortfyuz is now back with his debut album ‘Lostsol 96’ with exclusive features from Sean Price, Styles P, Ransom, Chris Rivers, Big Twins (Infamous Mobb), Reks, Crimeapple and many more. The album packs a heavy punch of hard hitting beats and great lyrics.

Torae "Daily Conversation" (10th Anniversary Edition)

Torae’s breakthrough project ‘Daily Conversation’ is finally getting a vinyl release for it’s 10th anniversary. The project that started it all features production from DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, Marco Polo, Khrysis, Black Milk and more. “Since it’s release people have been asking for me to put it out on wax. Myspace days, up to DM’s on twitter. So I figured a 10 year anniversary release would be dope. And what better way to celebrate some new vinyl than on Record Store Day” says Torae about the thought process behind releasing ‘Daily Conversation’ now. Torae has gone on to release 2 solo albums, 2 collaborative albums & 2 mixtapes since dropping ‘Daily’ in early 2008 but it’s still held as one of his most popular projects. Ironically, I met Torae for the first time 10 years ago at Fat Beats, on Record Store Day, and he was actually the first artist I'd interviewed on my first blog. I'll have to dig that up and re-post it one day soon, along with the RSD cypher. Much respect to Torae, always holdin' it down... Click HERE to order the vinyl directly from Torae, or via Fat Beats.

"Off The Dome Freestyle Compilation" (1994)

I came across this tape on Mixcloud, it was uploaded by the reputable RandomRapRadio and is called Off The Done freestyle compilation '94. The freestyles are all from the world famous Wake Up Show with Sway & Tech out in California, and Stretch & Bobbito's show in New York City. The blurb says the project was homemade by Amad, props to him for putting this compilation together. The tape features freestyles from Large Professor, O.C., Tha Alkaholiks, Artifacts, Saafir, Kurious, Masta Ace & Lord Digga, Wu-Tang Clan, Ras Kass, Kool Keith & Godfather Don, Supernatural, Guru, Jeru The Damaja, Akinyele, Del The Funkee Homosapien, Organized Konfusion, and more! A fun tape to throw on and just bug out to! Reminds me how much everything changed after the internet and camera phones got big. Artists couldn't tour with the same one or two freestyles, it was either go off the dome or have more rhymes in the chamber. But back then cats at least had bars! Right?!?!