Jake's Semi-Obscure DJ Premier Productions Compilation

DJ Premier is the total package, the Michael Jordan of East Coast production. Sure, Pete Rock's always had the best horns, RZA's got the dark and cinematic shit on lock and Prince Paul is the undisputed god of innovative sample layering.But as far as crafting a beat for the explicit purpose of providing a complimentary backdrop for an MC to showcase their talents over, Premier is second to none. There's a reason rappers save their best street verses for their Premier track, it's because everyone sounds their best over a Premier beat. If you rap, and you can't tear up a Premier beat, you need to get another hobby.
The main gripe people have about Premier is that his production formula is so rigid. This claim isn't inaccurate, if you drew up a structural outline of every Premier track, 95% of them would be borderline identical: A brief instrumental sample intro for live DJ's to cut up as they see fit, followed by a straightforward, punch-you-in-the-face drum kit under a sample that rises and falls in about the time it takes for a rapper to get a punchline across, with a deftly scratched chorus of perfectly on-beat vocal samples, usually relevant in content to the song's topic. This uniformity is in stark contrast to more avant-garde producers like Madlib and the late J Dilla who rarely tread the same musical terrain twice. Though more creatively experimental, Madlib and Dilla just don't have the quantity of cookie cutter, beat-and-rhyme-marriage street bangers that Premier's catalogue boasts. Premier's formula works, plain and simple. By never deviating from his initial strategy, Premier has maintained a consistency of quality that remains mostly unrivaled by his peers.

This compilation is simply a collection of Premier tracks that I liked. I tried to omit the obvious stuff (Gang Starr albums and classics everyone already has: Come Clean, New York State of Mind, Unbelievable etc.) in favor of songs that don't get the shine they deserve. Enjoy.

Afu-Ra———Lyrical Monster

All City——— The Actual

AZ ——— The Come Up (Produced by DJ Premier)

Bahamadia——— Rugged Ruff

Big Daddy Kane——— Just Rhymin' With Kane feat Just Ice

Big L——— 139 (feat Tony Touch)

Big Shug——— On the Record

Biz Markie——— And I Rock

Blaq Poet——— we gonna ill <<<<<------------Click to listen on youtube

Boot Camp Clik——— Take It Personal Freestyle (Sean Price, Steele, Buckshot)

Brand Nubian——— The Return

Cee-lo——— Evening News <---------Click to Listen on Youtube

Cormega——— Make It Clear

D.I.T.C.——— Time to Get This Money (Edit: this beat was Produced by Ahmed; Premier on the scratches)

D'Angelo——— Devil's Pie

D'Angelo ft. AZ ———You're My Lady (DJ Premier remix)

Devin The Dude——— Doobie Ashtray

Dilated Peoples——— Clock Work

Gang Starr——— The Piece Maker

Ghostface Killah——— Return Of Theodore Unit Ft Wigs and Trife Da God

House of Repz——— U Gotta Love Us (Street)

J Rock——— The Real One (Co-produced by DJ Premier & J Rock)

J Rock——— Neighborhood Drug Dealer Remix

J-Live——— The Best Part

Just-Ice——— History <-----------Click to listen on Youtube

Just-Ice——— Gangstas Dont Cry

Keith Murray ———My Style Is Incredible

KRS-ONE ——— Wannabemceez

Leaders Of The New School——— Freestyle with Kurious Jorge

Little Vic——— The Exorcist

Ludacris——— MVP

M.O.P.——— Downtown Swinga 96

Mark Ronson——— Just (Feat. Blaq Poet) (DJ Premier Remix)

Nas ———Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park) (DJ Premier Demo Mix)

Non Phixion——— Rock Stars

Pitch Black——— It's All Real

Pitch Black——— Rep Tha Hardest[Prod. By DJ Premier]

Ras Kass——— Goldyn Chyld

Reef The Lost Cauze——— Livin Proof Freestyle

Reks——— Say Goodnight

Royce Da 5'9" ——— Hit Em!

Royce Da 5'9"——— Royce Is Like

Sean Price——— Megasean

Shyheim——— On and On [Premier Remix]

Smooth B——— Game Over

Snoop Dogg——— The One And Only

The X-Ecutioners——— Premier's X-Ecution

Xzibit——— What A Mess <-------------click to listen on youtube

Zeebra ———Untouchable

Download (two parts):

http://rapidshare.com/files/431358628/Archive.zip

http://rapidshare.com/files/431361958/Archive2.zip

Edit: there were a couple mistakes I made in the haste to make this compilation, Time to Get This Money, and the 50 song aren't Premier beats, he just scratched the chorus and the Choclair song was just on one of his mixtapes. Oh well, enjoy the rest of them.

Notorious B.I.G. Mixtape Megapost!

Biggie is one of those MCs whose greatness is almost never debated. His swinging flow, commanding voice and infectious charisma created a universal appeal very rarely achieved in hip hop. Everyone has Ready to Die and Life After Death but Biggie recorded many verses that never appeared on either of these albums.

The mixtapes below contain most of these verses, in various forms. Some are in their original incarnation while others have had their acapella's blended on top of familiar instrumentals. A few others are remix albums that feature some original production. In any case it's a chance to hear some "new" Biggie, which is always good.

Biggie Smalls' Demo Tape

Pretty self-explanatory. These were recorded in '92-'93 and were used to promote the up-and-coming Christopher Wallace. Blazing Chronic is a pretty rare gem that unfortunately gets cut off here. The extra Can I Get With Ya verse is also fun to have.

1. Unsigned Hype Demo Tape
2. Another Rough One (Demo)
3. Biggie With the Hype Shit (’92 Demo)
4. Do What You Wanna Do (’93 Demo)
5. Macs & Dons
6. Blazing Chronic (Gets Cut Off) <--------Click here to listen on youtube
7. Can I Get With Ya (Version with Extra Verse)

Get It

Ready To Die (The O.G. Edition)

This was put together a couple years ago. It contains the original drafts/mixes/vocal takes of the songs that ended up on Biggie's debut, plus a few other unreleased tracks. Some of them have different production (like Pete Rock's mix for Juicy that was never used) and others have more subtle differences (like Gimme The Loot's vocal take without the "pregnant" line blurred out). For a track-by-track analysis of the major differences see here

01 Intro(Original Uncleared Sample Version)
02 Things Done Changed(Original Version)
03 Gimme The Loot(Uncensored Never Before Heard Version)
04 Machine Fun Funk(Dj Premier Version)
05 Warning(Original Version)
06 Ready To Die(Original Beat Version)
07 One More Chance(Original Uncleared Sample Version)
08 Fuck Me(Interlude)
09 The What(Original Unheard Lyrics Version)
10 Juicy(Pete Rock Version)<-------------Click here to listen on Youtube
11 Everyday Struggle(Demo Version)
12 Me And My Bitch(Original Beat Version)
13 Respect(Original Extended Version)
14 Friend Of Mine(Original Demo Version)
15 Whatchu Want(Unreleased Original Version)
16 Suicidal Thoughts(Pete Rock Version)
17 Come On(Unreleased Original Version)
18 Who Shot Ya(Original Demo Version)
19 Mac’s N Dons(Unreleased)
20 Pepsi Freestyle(Original Unreleased Version)
21 Biggie Got That Hype Shit(Unreleased Demo)

Get It

Solos: Before Puff Made It Gay

Hilarious title aside, this is one of the better collections of unreleased Biggie songs. Most of these are freestyles used to promote Ready To Die, a few others were for commercials (the pepsi one is pretty funny) and a couple are remixes/blends from other mixtapes. The mixtape also contains a couple songs like Notorious Thugs and Realms of Junior MAFIA that have the non-Biggie verses cut out. Definitely worth getting, if only for the freestyles.

1. Basement Freestyle
2. Bed Stuy Freestyle
3. Big Poppa (Lost Verse)
4. Biggie
5. Blazin (exclusive)
6. Can I Get Witcha Dre Mix
7. Dj Enuff Freestyle
8. Dolly My Baby
9. Everyday Struggle Remix (exclusive)
10. Freestyle From 1993
11. Fucking You Tonight Remix
12. House of Pain
13. In God We Trust
14. Keep Your Hands High
15. Mac and Dons
16. Money, Hoes, Clothes
17. Mr Cee Intro
18. Nasty Boy Old Skool Mix
19. Nine Dogs
20. Notorious is Glorious
21. Notorious Thugs
22. Off the Dome
23. Oh My Lord
24. Party and Bullshit Lean Back Remix
25. Pepsi Commercial (bonus) <------Click here to listen on Youtube
26. Player's Anthem Remix
27. Round and Round
28. St. Ides Commercial (bonus)
29. Suicidal Thoughts 2005
30. What's The 411?
31. You'll See
32. 50 Grand Demo
33. Realms of Junior MAFIA

Get It

Starring The Black Frank White

Basically the same thing as above. Just a bootleg tape with some unreleased or non-album songs and freestyles. The freestyle at Mister Cee's is has to be heard to be believed, "If I were pussy, I'd be filled with syphallis/chlamydia, gettin rid 'a ya," "niggaz press they luck n'/they get a buttfuckin'/straight up the ass, raw dog with the rash" Ah, the days before "no-homo."

1. All Men Are Dogs (Remix)
2. Buddy X (Remix)
3. A Buncha Niggas (Original)
4. Da B-Side
5. For My Niggaz (Remix)
6. Freestyle Live at Mister Cee's<----click here to listen on Youtube
7. Get Money (Original and Remix)
8. I'm Jus Playin'
9. Jam Session
10. Let's Get It On
11. Live At the Palladium
12. The Madison Square Garden Freestyle
13. Player's Anthem (Original and
14. Real Love (Remix)

Get It

Rap Phenomenon Vol. 1

A mixtape of slick blends by DJ Vlad and Dirty Harry along with a gang of unreleased tracks and freestyles.

1. Dirty Harry - Notorious B.I.G. Tribute Mix
2. Notorious B.I.G. - What Up Gangsta [Dirty Harry Blend]
3. Notorious B.I.G. - Let's Get It On [Dirty Harry Blend]
4. Notorious B.I.G. - If I Should I Die [Dirty Harry Blend]
5. Notorious B.I.G. - Live At The Garden [DJ Vlad Blend]
6. Notorious B.I.G. - Party & Bullshit [Dirty Harry Blend]
7. Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize [Dirty Harry Blend]
8. Notorious B.I.G. - Cars & Sex [DJ Vlad Blend]
9. Notorious B.I.G. F*cking You Tonight [DJ Vlad Blend]
10. Notorious B.I.G. - Can I Get Withca [DJ Vlad Let's Get High Blend]
11. Notorious B.I.G. - Can I Get Withca [DJ Vlad Next Episode Blend]
12. Notorious B.I.G. - Can I Get Withca [DJ Vlad Bang Bang Blend]
13. Notorious B.I.G. - Nasty Boy Notorious B.I.G. [DJ Vlad Rapper's Delight Blend]<--click here to listen on youtube
14. Notorious B.I.G. - Nasty Boy Notorious B.I.G. [DJ Vlad Message Blend]
15. Notorious B.I.G. - Nasty Boy Notorious B.I.G. [DJ Vlad Children's Story Blend]
UNRELEASED SONGS
16. Tupac & Notorious B.I.G. - House Of Pain
17. Notorious B.I.G feat. Tupac & Big L - Deadly Combination
18. Notorious B.I.G. - You'll See
19. Notorious B.I.G. Dreams
20. Notorious B.I.G feat. Red Hot Lover Tone - To My Ni**as
21. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Heavy D - Jam Session
22. Notorious B.I.G. - Who Shot Ya?
23. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Pudgee & Lord Tariq. - Think Big
24. Notorious B.I.G. feat Mel O. Groupies
25. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Luke - Bust a Nut
26. Notorious B.I.G. feat Ed Lover & Dr. Dre - Who's The Man
27. Notorious B.I.G. feat Heavy D. - A Buncha Niggas
28. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Tupac - Be The Realist
29. Notorious B.I.G. - Real Niggaz
30. Notorious B.I.G. feat Jermaine Durpi & Da Brat - Da B Side
31. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Grandaddy IU & Grand Puba - Cars & Sex
32. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Nenah Cherry - Buddy X
33. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Michael Jackson - You Really Got A Hold On Me
34. Flavor Flav Interview
35. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Tracey Lee - Keep Your Hands High
36. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Tupac - Runnin'
37. TQ West Coast Interview
38. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Shaq - Can't Stop The Reign
39. Notorious B.I.G. - Be Happy
40. Fat Joe Interview
41. Notorious B.I.G. feat. Aaron Hall - Why Ya Tryin To Play Me
42. Notorious B.I.G. feat. 50 Cent - My Nigga
FREESTYLES
43. Notorious B.I.G. - Rap City Freestyle
44. Notorious B.I.G. - DJ Enuff Freestyle
45. Notorious B.I.G. - Mr. Cee Freestyle
46. Notorious B.I.G. - Wake Up Show Freestyle
47. Lox & Notorious B.I.G. - Funkmaster Flex Freestyle
48. Outro
49. Notorious B.I.G. - 16 Bars Freestyle
50. Notorious B.I.G.'s Last Interview

Get It

J. Period & G. Brown Present: March 9 Vol. 1+2

This is by far the best mixtape of Biggie blends I have ever heard. From the choice of the beats to the track sequencing, this mixtape is aces. Classic verses over classic instrumentals.

Some highlights for me include:

Hypnotize over Rakim's Paid In Full

Machine Gun Funk over Alkaholiks' Make Room

Gimme The Loot over Gang Starr's Just To Get A Rep

Last Day ft. NaS over Raekwon's Criminology

1. Suicidal Thoughts (March 9 Remix)
2. Ready To Die
3. Niggaz Bleed (March 9 Remix)
4. Dead Wrong (March 9 Remix)
5. Dead Wrong feat. Eminem
6. Change The Game (Interlude)
7. Kick In The Door (March 9 Remix)
8. Where Brooklyn At? (Interlude)
9. Real Niggaz Do Real Things Pt. 1 (March 9 Remix)
10. Real NIggaz Do Real Things Pt. 2 (March 9 Remix)
11. Real Niggaz Do Real Things Pt. 3 (March 9 Remix)
12. Whats Beef feat. Mos Def (March 9 Remix)
13. Things Done Changed Pt. 1 (March 9 Remix)
14. Things Done Changed Pt. 2 (March 9 Remix)
15. 10 Crack Commandments (March 9 Remix)
16. Deadly Combination Feat. 2Pac & Big L (March 9 Remix)
17. 7 Mack 11 Freestyle (March 9 Remix)
18. Dangerous MC's Feat. Busta Rhymes & Snoop Dogg (March 9 Remix)
19. Last Day (March 9 Remix)
20. Last Day Feat. Nas (March 9 Remix)
21. Nas Speaks On Pac & BIG (Interlude)
22. The What (March 9)
23. The Wickedest (Interlude)
24. Young G's Perspective (March 9 Remix)
25. My Downfall (March 9 Remix)
26. Long Kiss Pt. 1 (March 9 Remix)
27. Long Kiss Pt. 2 (March 9 Remix)
28. Gimme The Loot Pt. 1 (March 9 Remix)
29. Gimme The Loot Pt. 2 (March 9 Remix)
30. Machine Gun Funk (March 9 Remix)<----Click here to listen on Youtube
31. N*ggaz (March 9 Remix)
32. Spit Yo Game Feat. Twista (March 9 Remix)
33. Somebody's Got To Die Feat. Jay-Z (March 9 Remix)
34. Somebody's Got To Die
35. You're Nobody Until Sombody Kills You(Outtro)
36. Bonus Track: Respect (March 9 Remix)
37. In The Limelight (March 9 Remix)
38. Story to Tell (March 9 Remix)
39. One More Chance (All Night Long) (March 9 Remix)
40. One More Chance (Outstanding)
41. One More Chance (Before I Let Go) (March 9 Remix)
42. Can't You See? (March 9 Remix)
43. Friend of Mine (Smooth) (March 9 Remix)
44. Friend of Mine (Rough) (March 9 Remix)
45. Big Poppa Thing (March 9 Remix)
46. One More Chance (Ain't No Fun) (March 9 Remix)
47. Goin Back to Cali (3 Strikes Remix)
48. You'll See (March 9 Remix)
49. Whutcha Want? (March 9 Remix)
50. Flava In Ya Ear (March 9 Remix)
51. Hail Mary, Full of Grace (March 9 Remix)
52. Living the Life (March 9 Remix) Feat. Snoop Dogg
53. Big Poppa (March 9 Remix)
54. Dreams (March 9 Remix)
55. Crush On You (March 9 Remix)
56. Think About It (Interlude)
57. Hypnotize (March 9 Remix)
58. Bust A Nut (March 9 Remix)
59. Get Off (Interlude)
60. Nasty Boy (March 9 Remix)
61. Another/Rock With You (March 9 Remix)
62. I'm Dreamin (Interlude)
63. Another/Never Too Much (March 9 Remix)
64. Ah One Two (Interlude)
65. Live At The BBQ 2007
66. Party, Bullshit & Jump (March 9 Remix)
67. Ready Of Not (B.I.G. Remix) Feat. Lauryn Hill
68. Everyday Struggle (Alternate Take) (March 9 Remix)
69. Police Report (Interlude)
70. Suicidal Thoughts (6 Feet Deep Remix)
71. A Day With B.I.G. (March 9 Outtro)
72. Hidden Bonus: Can't You See The Soldiers (Produced By J.Period)

Get It

Bed Stuy Meets Blue Eyes

This mash-up album features original production using vocal and instrumental samples from Frank Sinatra songs. Most of these songs are pretty well-executed. Dead Wrong sounds even darker over these eerie horn pulses, crawling piano and church bells and Juicy sounds more celebratory than ever over these climbing horn lines. Definitely worth checking out.

1. Juicy - New York, New York<-----------Click here to listen on Youtube
2. Everyday Struggle - A Day In The Life of a Fool
3. Nasty Boy - For Every Man There's A Woman
4. Come On - My Way of Life
5. Interlude - The World We Know (Over & Over)
6. Dead Wrong - In My Room (Nancy Sinatra)
7. Let's Get In On (feat. 2Pac) - Rain In My Heart
8. Hypnotize - Little Green Apples
9. Interlude
10. 10 Crack Commandments - Fools Rush In
11. Runnin/Victory 2004 - A Long Night
12. Unfoolish (feat. Ashanti) - Out Beyond The Window

Get It

Vinyl Reanimators Remix Compilation

I zipped up all my favorite Vinyl Reanimators remixes into a single collection. Very cool mid-90s sample-based production. The verses themselves are almost all mid-to-late 90s new york favorites, so you'll probably recognize at least a few of them. The cool thing about these tracks is how divergent they are from the originals.

The original Rakim song had a beat that had all the boisterous pizazz and overwrought drama of a DMX song and as a consequence, Rakim's laid-back, jazzy flow always sounded out-of-place and forced on the track. This was a shame because the verses were among the best he'd written since going solo. But The Vinyl Reanimators fixed him up with a smooth beat that matches his flow much more convincingly than the original ever did.

The Fast Life remix is another example of Vinyl Reanimators upgrading a formerly corny song that happened to have quality verses, though I still prefer the Salaam Remi remix overall.

The Jeru track might actually be my favorite. The drum pattern is radically different from the original, it actually sounds like more of Jeru's stressed syllables land on drum hits than they do on the original. They use the same spaced-out sample as Pete Rock's Raekwon/Masta Killa track from 2008 to great effect, they also incorporate a sound effect at the end of every bar in the first verse that almost sounds like a faulty engine trying to turn over. This, coupled with the erratic drum pattern, gives the remix a chaotic and urgent feel that is in stark contrast to the smooth and relaxed mood of Premier's original beat.

These are imaginative, inventive remixes that any fan of 90s new york shit should check out.

Artifacts Art of Facts (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

AZ Doe or Die Vinyl Reanimators Remix

Brand Nubian Keep Bubblin' (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

Brothas under Madness aka BUMS Take A Look Around (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

De La Soul f. Common The Bizness (1996 Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

Ghostfaced Killah Daytona 500 (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

Group Therapy East Coast-West Coast Killas Vinyl Reanimators Remix

Jeru the Damaja Ya Playin' Yaself (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

Jungle Brothers How ya want it Vinyl Reanimators Remix

Kool G Rap Fast Life (Vinyl Reanimators remix)

KRS One Step into a World (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

L The Head Toucha Too Complex

Mic Geronimo Unstoppable Vinyl Reanimators Remix 1997

Mobb Deep Drop A Gem On Em (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

Nas Affirmative Action Vinyl Reanimators Remix 1997

Nas Feat. R. Kelly Nas Will Rock [Street Dreams (Remix) (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)]

O.C. Born to Live Vinyl Reanimators Remix

Rakim Guess who's back (Vinyl Reanimators Remix #1)

Rakim Guess who's back (Vinyls Reanimators Remix #2)

Redman Whateva Man Vinyl Reanimators Remix

Tha Alkaholiks Hip Hop Drunkies (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

A Tribe called Quest Stressed out (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

Get It

Daptone Records Double-Post: The Mighty Imperials and Sugarman 3

Daptone Records is a label that seems to release exclusively throwback funk and soul albums. Both of these albums were released in the last 10 years and yet they sound like they came straight out of the early 1970s.

The Mighty Imperials - Thunder Chicken (2006)

New Orleans heavy organ/guitar/bass/drums funk. Basically, this sounds like a new Meters album. The drums are bangin throughout the record, mixed just like they used to be back in the day. The guitar and bass both do an excellent job of creating and maintaining some funky ass rhythms that will get the girls in the room on their feet. The organ work is great here, highly reminiscent of the aforementioned Meters as well as Booker T. The solos are brief, these guys aren't showoffs, they just keep the groove going strong. Most of these tracks are instrumental, but three of them have vocals by a guy named Joseph Henry. Henry's vocals remind one of James Brown's crowd interactions, most of them are some variation of UHH! GET UP! SHAKE IT! LET'S GET IT GOIN! Apparently these guys were only 16 when they made this album. Henry was the only one old enough to buy a pack of cigarettes. You'd never know it though, this album knocks!

Tracklisting:

1. Thunder Chicken

2. Never Found a Girl

3. Jody's Walk

4. Duck Hunt

5. Joseph's Popcorn

6. Chico's Barnyard

7. Kick the Blanket

8. Funky Belly

9. Ride Shank's Mare

Download

Buy

Sugarman 3 - Soul Donkey (2000)

More heavy organ funk, this time with horns! Lots of amazing drum breaks that are just begging to be sampled, especially on the first few bars of that title track. All instrumental, this album doesn't have any slow songs on it, it's all dance funk. Seems more centered on powerful breaks than salacious grooves. The solos have a bit more room to breathe on this album than on Thunder Chicken, with the organ, drums, guitar and horns all given some time to shine, and shine they do. The horns take center stage on most of the tracks, this album seems most comparable to Lou Donaldson's more funk-oriented outings, although a bit more uptempo. This was the first album I heard on the Daptone label and really made me want to check out what else they had goin on. Hopefully it will have the same effect on you.

Tracklisting:

1. Soul Donkey

2. Chicken Half

3. Baby I Love You

4. Turtle Walk

5. Daisy Rides Again

6. Double Back

7. Pull My Cart

8. Mulin' Around

9. Saddle For Two

10. Out A Sight

11. So Long Donkey

Download

Buy

The Best NaS Remixes In My iTunes Library

If you like NaS at all, you should probably download this. These are the best remixes/blends of NaS songs that I've found over the years. Beats by DJ Premier, J Dilla, RZA, Dr. Dre, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, Havoc, The 45 King, RJD2, Large Professor, MF DOOM, DangerMouse, Kanye, 9th Wonder and even Al Green are all featured here. If you especially appreciate a certain song in the compilation, let me know and I will send you a link to the album/mixtape it came from.


✓ Affirmative Action Vinyl Reanimators Remix 1997
✓ Blaze Another Fifty (L.O.P. Remix)
✓ Book Of Rhymes (Blend)
-Uses the 10 Crack Commandments Beat
✓ Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix)
✓ Come Get Me
-Same MF Doom beat from 9 Milli Bros off of Fishscale
✓ F.E.D.S. II
-A Street's Disciple verse over Still Tippin, surprisingly great.
✓ Fast Life Feat Nas (Norfside Remix)
✓ Fast Life feat. Kool G. Rap (Supa Star)
✓ Freestyle Paper Planes
-M.I.A. + NaS
✓ Halftime (Butcher remix)
-A subtle, grimey remix by Arsenal
✓ I Can...(Large Pro blend)
✓ I Make It Like That Part II
-Uses Ambitonz as a Ridah (Tupac)
✓ It Ain't Hard To Tell (Dilla Blend)
-Uses Starz from Jaylib's Champion Sound
✓ It Ain't Hard To Tell (Large Professor Remix)
-A classic
✓ It Ain't Hard To Tell [Dangermouse Nas Is Like Blend]
✓ It Ain't Hard To Tell Remix
✓ It Aint Hard To Tell
-Uses RJD2-Produced Saliva off of MF Doom's Operation Doomsday
✓ It Aint Hard To Tell (Danger Mouse Remix)
✓ It's Mine feat. Mobb Deep & J
✓ Just To Get A Thief
-Uses Gangstarr's Just To Get A Rep with Thief's Theme
✓ Last Day Feat. Nas (March 9 Remix)
-Uses RZA's Criminology beat off Only Built
✓ Last Real Nigga Alive (9th Wonder Mix)
✓ The Last Real Nigga Alive (Blend)
-Uses KRS ONE's MC's Act Like They Don't Know
✓ Life's a Bitch (Delay Remix)
✓ Life's a Bitch (Start From Scratch Mix)
-Uses The Game's Start From Scratch
✓ Made You Look (Apache Remix)
✓ Made You Look (J. Period Remix)
-Uses Shook Ones
✓ Made You Look (Large Pro blend)
✓ Made You Look / Love And Happiness (Ft. Jadakiss and Ludacris)
-AL GREEN!
✓ Memory Lane Remix Demo DJ Premier
✓ Nas Will Rock Pete Rock Mix
✓ New York (Heart of the City)
-Uses the Kanye beat from the Jay-Z song
✓ NY State of Mind 2 45 King remix
-Sweet blend by Vaporized using the beat that was the first draft of Eminem's Stan
✓ One Love (Original Q-Tip Mix)
✓ Represent Remix Demo DJ Premier
✓ Rewind (Mind Playing Tricks)
-Uses the Geto Boys beat
✓ Salute Me (Blend)
-Uses Gang Starr's Above The Clouds
✓ Silent Murder
-Not a remix but a dope track cut from his second album
✓ Stillmatic Intro (Remix)
✓ Street Dreams
-MF DOOM blend
✓ Take it in blood alt verse
✓ Thief's Theme
-Uses The Red from Jaylib's Champion Sound
✓ The World Is Yours (Juicy Beat) (Stackhouse Recordings Mix)
-Brief blend using Biggie's Juicy
✓ The World Is Yours (Large Pro blend)
-Very low-key, very cool
✓ The World Is Yours (Tip Remix)
-Q-Tip
✓ 95 Ferenheit

Download

EDIT:

I left this one off like a damn fool. But everyone should hear it anyway.

Kool Keith - Black Elvis/Lost In Space (1999)

"Every morning I wake up, lookin in the mirror
I am, the original Black Elvis
That's right. When you see me, with my wig to the side,
wearin my short leather jacket,
Marilyn Monroe on my back,
I'm livin that life,
I'm for real with this."

Kool Keith has been making fun of hip hop for more than 20 years now. Never taking himself or hip hop seriously, he has nevertheless proven himself time and time again to be one of the most gifted and unique rappers to ever pick up a microphone. Kool Keith's rapping style is one of the only in the history hip hop to never be successfully jacked by anyone. He often raps off-beat, forming his own metronome which is somehow still complimentary to the drum pattern he's rapping over. His rhyme-schemes vary abruptly and erratically but somehow manage to never sound awkward. In short: Kool Keith has the most dynamic flow of any rapper alive (I specify alive only because the Ol' Dirty Bastard might still hold the title overall).

Though Keith is incredibly prolific, his output is notoriously uneven. The downfall of Keith's many bad albums usually hinges on one fact: Keith has a terrible ear for beats. And while an amazing beat can save a lame verse (see: Group Home - Supa Star), an awful beat always makes a rap song unlistenable. And since Keith is too cheap to pay for beats and is no brilliant producer himself, well, there are a LOT of bad Kool Keith songs.

But on Black Elvis Lost in Space, Kool Keith got it mostly right. The beats are sparse and minimalist and don't distract from Keith's esoteric hilarity: synthesized bass samples with some spaced out sound effects over straightforward 808 drum programming by Motion Man. They're not great beats, don't get me wrong, but they do the trick.

Black Elvis/Lost in Space is actually two albums. The first half is Keith Turbo in space and the second half is Black Elvis on earth. But they’re both just different characters that Keith uses to do what he does best: calling out bullshit rappers for their unoriginality (“Youse a first year rookie, duplicatin Method Man”) as well as mocking their lack of funds (“Livin with roommates, you camp out, with paper plates/Broke Panasonic speakers missin, playin Puff and Mase”) and bragging about things that no one but Keith would think to brag about. On one song he takes over a record label and revels in being a millionaire CEO:
“Me and Al Sharpton was talkin about real estate in Compton
With a loan from General Mills
I would start a new NBA team in Baldwin Hills
The Baldwin Hills Spacemen
Lime green uniforms with a orange basketball logo
coach the group solo, that's right, dolo.”

Keith’s adlibs are damn funny too. On The Girls Don’t Like The Job, he gives his secretary some pretty hilarious instructions at the end of his verse: “I want you to fax yourself to China OK? Do this now.” He starts every song with tongue-in-cheek hip-hop cliché’s like “YEAH, FOR THE 2000, WORD UP! NEW YORK! ALL THE WAY LIVE! YouknowhatI'msayin?” You can’t help but smile because of how seriously the people he’s mocking take themselves.

Some people are put-off by this album because of how stupid and nonsensical the choruses are (I see maxi curls! Yeah! Players, activator/I see maxi curls! Yeah! Remote control alligators [and repeat]) but this too is intentional, he wants to show us just how silly rap really is.

This is a hilarious album and one that showcases the skills of one of the most talented rappers of all time, but it’s not for everyone. If you want an album to put on at a party, look elsewhere. If you only have a passing interest in lyrics and are more attuned to beats, look elsewhere. But if you want to put on your headphones and listen to a jester virtuoso poke fun at the absurdity of rapper egos, this is your album. "I'm doin it well! I'm doin it swell!"

Whether or not you cop the album though, everyone should check out the video below. Funny as hell.

Tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Lost In Space
3. Rockets on the Battlefield
4. Livin Astro
5. Supergalactic Lover
6. Master of the Game
7. I'm Seein Robots
8. Static
9. Intro 2
10. Black Elvis
11. Maxi Curls
12. Keith Turbo
13. Fine Girls
14. The Girls Don't Like The Job
15. Clifton
16. All The Time
17. I Don't Play
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Soul Tornadoes - The Complete Recordings (1969)

Crunchy, badass instrumental funk. These guys never actually released an album, just a string of singles that are collected here. Every track is a banger; there is no dance party you couldn't tear up with any one of these tracks. The organ work is tremendous; the solos are melt-your-face-off amazing. If you like James Brown and Booker T. and the MG's (and who doesn't?), you will love this album.
Tracklisting:
1. Hot Pants Breakdown
2. Boot's Groove
3. Go For Yourself
4. Funky Thing
5. Crazy Legs
6. Bobby's Mood

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Sam Cooke - Night Beat (1963)

Shortly before his death at the hands of one of his lovers, Sam Cooke released his best album: Night Beat. Many of Cooke's albums are riddled with forced country-western tempos or dramatically over-produced swelling strings, crashing horns and backup singers. This album is Cooke's best for the simple fact that it lacks any of these blemishes.

The songs are well-chosen, each giving Cooke a chance to showcase the stunning power and control he had over his legendary smooth-as-silk voice. His extraordinarily expressive voice is dripping with so much anguish on every song that you can't help but believe his pain, making this one of the most heart-wrenching albums ever made.

The effectively understated instrumentation on Night Beat is a big part of its success. Most of the songs consist of a simple, quiet bass-line, subtle drumming that always compliments and never overpowers Cooke and some graceful piano or guitar to set the mood. Sitting at the organ is Billy Preston, sometimes known as "the fifth Beatle" for his prolific work with the group (Get Back was credited upon its release to "The Beatles with Billy Preston," one of the only times a fifth person was acknowledged). But Sam's flawless vocals are what stick with you. Every track on Night Beat is a classic; if you keep only one Sam Cooke album in your collection, this should be it.

For the audiophiles out there, this album was recorded on RCA Victor during one of the label's last great years, making it one of the best-sounding (from a technical sense) soul albums ever recorded: the separation on the soundstage and the dynamic range and depth of the mid-range sound is nothing short of astounding.

Tracklisting
1. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
2. Lost And Lookin
3. Mean Old World
4. Please Don't Drive Me Away
5. I Lost Everything
6. Get Yourself Another Fool
7. Little Red Rooster
8. Laughin' and Clownin
9. Trouble Blues
10. You Gotta Move
11. Fool's Paradise
12. Shake Rattle & Roll

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Sly & The Revolutionaries - Black Ash Dub (1980)

One of my favorite reggae dub albums. Each song frames Robbie Shakespeare's basslines with virtuoso reggae drumming complete with lots of spaced out reverb and some impressively understated bongo work. Extremely well-produced, reminds me of the best of King Tubby's dub work. Each song is supposed to represent a different drug, so there is quite a bit of variation of moods and tones used but it remains cohesive nonetheless. A relaxing album that never gets boring or tedious.

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Tracklisting

1. Marijuana

2. Herb

3. Collie

4. Lambsbread

5. Rizla

6. LSD

7. Acupulco Gold

8. Cocaine

9. Black Ash

10. White Rum

Fela Kuti - Zombie (1976)

Zombie might be the funkiest afrobeat song of all time. It was Fela's biggest hit and took Nigeria by storm in 1977. The political message behind the album was so incendiary that Fela's mother was killed as a result of its release. The horn solos are some of the best I've ever heard, in any genre. If you're looking for a way to introduce yourself to African funk: look no further, you won't look back.

Tracklisting

1. Zombie

2. Mister Follow Follow

3. Observation is no Crime

4. Mistake (live)

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Mel Brown - Chicken Fat (1967)

Great 60s electric blues instrumental album. If you like classic blues guitar solos, this album is a must. A former sideman for T-Bone Walker, his picking is relentlessly fantastic throughout. He's joined by Herb Ellis on side guitar who contributes almost as much to the greatness of this as Mel does. Also, his drummer Paul Humphrey is one of the most underrated of all time, another good reason to snag this gem. As Mel's career progressed he moved towards fusing funk and blues, Chicken Fat was his debut and is generally more straightforward electric blues music, but much of the pacing, drumming and organ work (especially on the title track) showcase his growing appreciation for funk.

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It begins

This blog is going to span a wide variety of genres and decades. I’ll spend some time on both vintage and fresh hip hop, funk (60s and 70s), soul music, reggae/dub/Jamaican funk/Ska, psychedelic rock/folk/pop/soul music from around the world, 50s and 60s pop music, the blues (Chicago, Delta, piano, electric, acoustic, blues-rock), Afrobeat and African pop, instrumentals from all genres with some jazz and big band music thrown in there from time to time. If a link falls dead, post a comment and I’ll do my best to provide one that works. If you are the owner/artist and would like me to remove a link, drop me a line and I'll take it down.