The JMS Fat Tape Vol.7 (2018)

I get goosebumps when the bassline thumps...

01 DJ Muggs feat. Damian Marley, Everlast, Meyhem Lauren - Jump Around (25 Year Remix) (2018)
02 Dred Scott - I Gotta Get Mine (1995)
03 J Scienide - Chasers (Cuts by DJ Jon Doe) (2017)
04 Dillon & Batsauce - Keep Pushin feat. Sadat-X (2018)
05 Mars Ill - Black Market (feat. Playdough) (2001)
06 Awon & Phoniks -  Love Is A Hurting Thing (2018)
07 Homeliss Derelix - Operations (1996)
08 Dome Crackers ft Grap Luva - Take A Look (2001)
09 Wee Bee Foolish - This Kid (2001)
10 The Legion - For You (2014)
11 Triflicts - Genuine (Produced by The Beatnuts) (1996)
12 Tha Grimm Teachaz - Melissa (2010)
13 Da Bush Babees - The Ruler (1996)
14 Mecca 83 - Let's Get It (feat. Grap Luva) (2017)
15 Zoom & Rectape - Smart Dummies (feat. Masta Ace) (2018)

Say Turn It Up! (Louder!)

The JMS Fat Tape Vol.6 (2018)

Music calms the savage beast...

01 Kwest tha Madd Ladd - What's the Reaction (Remix) (Produced by Don Charnas) (1996) (Re-released in 2007)
02 Big Daddy Kane - Daddy's Home (Produced by LG) (1994)
03 J Dilla ft Elzhi - Come Get It (2001)
04 VVS Verbal feat. Sadat X, Craig G - Then 2 Now (Produced by ES-K) (2018)
05 J-Live - School's In (Produced by Mark Ronson) (2001)
06 Prophetix - Unstoppable (Produced by Aspirin) (2002)
07 Capital Tax - I Can't Believe It (G's Jazz Mix) (1993)
08 Luv NY - Snake Charmer feat. A.G., Kurious and Dave Dar (2014)
09 The D.O.C. - No One Can Do It Better (Produced by Dr Dre) (1989)
10 Stezo - Freak The Funk (Produced by Doug Lazy) (1989)
11 al.divino x ESTEE NACK - EVANGELIUM (prod. OLASEGUN) (2018)
12 Celph Titled & Buckwild - There Will Be Blood (Feat. Sadat X, Grand Puba, A.G., O.C. & Diamond D) (2010)
13 MED & Guilty Simpson - Face Down (Produced by Black Milk) (2018)
14 CrimeApple & Big Ghost Ltd - Grey Poupon (2018)
15 Cash Crew - Original Freaky Flo (1996)

Here

R.I.P. MC EZ aka Craig Mack

Kick that old robotic, futuristic, George Jetson, crazy joint!

Yet another Hip Hop entertainer has left us at a young age (46), I first saw a post on Instagram from the legendary Biz Markie that another great one has gone, RIP Craig Mack, the odd part is that there was a photo of Biz himself and he wasn't replying to any comments, it wasn't until DJ Scratch left a post on Instagram and it was confirmed that MC EZ aka Craig Mack had sadly passed away.

No one knew how or why he had passed but it eventually surfaced that Craig Mack died from heart failure and had been ill for some time, the saddest part is that the legendary Easy Mo Bee stated that he had finally convinced Mack to make new music but even Mo Bee was left in the dark about Mack's health.



Mack first made his way into Hip Hop recording "Get Retarded" (probably best known for it's zoom zoom zoom vocal refrain) b/w "Just Rhymin" for the Fresh records label in 1988 under the MC EZ alias, it made a little noise but enough to sustain a career so Mack became a roadie for DJ Scratch and often joined EPMD on their tours, where legend has it that him and Redman would battle anyone and anybody in Hotel lobbies.



It wasn't until 1993 when he appeared on Mary J Blige's remix of "You Don't Have To Worry" (sampled brilliantly by NYC crew Sourface in 1994 and also known as the joint that they didn't understand Mack on lol) that I went back to that MC EZ and Troup 12" and released that it was the same MC, see these were times way before Google and smart phones and there was never anything said that Craig Mack was in fact MC EZ that I could recall.

"Flava In Ya Ear" (produced by the legendary Easy Mo Bee) was immensely well received in clubs, bars, gigs, parties etc and on radio and still is to this day and set the precedent for Bad Boy Recordings, the All Star posse remix was huge and there were a couple of other remixes for the track as well and the 12" also contained the ill B-Side "Shinika" which didn't make the LP, this can also be found on the Non LP Cuts compilation.

His dope debut LP Project: Funk Da World was also released the same year (and it's no secret that snake Diddy (known as Puff Daddy back then) dropped Mack like a bad habit after the album only went Gold, I enjoyed his second album as well and the slew of singles he released over the years, I could be wrong but I think his last appearance was on Erick Sermon's "Come Thru" track) there was also The Mack World Sessions released in 2017.

There was a documentary being made about Mack's career and religious Life after his Rap career but it is not known if it was finished or will be finished yet, it is also not known when his unreleased music will be see the light of day but hopefully it will soon. 

Thanks for the great memories Craig Mack.

Get Down (Q-Tip Remix)

Flava In Ya Ear (Nashmack Club Mix)

Flava In Ya Ear (Easy Mo Mix)

Mack Come Thru (Produced by Easy Mo Bee)

Wooden Horse (Produced by The 45 King)

R.I.P. Craig Jamieson Mack

May 10, 1971 - March 12, 2018

DJ OG-S - Flava Rule (2018)

DJ OG-S is back with a brand new selection of rare indie Rap joints recorded between 1989 and 1999. The mixtape is fully mixed, composed, mastered and recorded by DJ OG-S and is available on CD (100 copies) or Cassette (100 copies). Artwork by Spek The Architek.



Get it here

JMS Presents - Redman - Remixes, Non LP Cuts and Production (2018)

Redman in NYC circa 1992: Photo taken by the legendary Chi Modu

Any true Hip Hop head would know exactly how much of an impact the legendary Newark, New Jersey stalwart known was Reggie Noble aka Redman made on 90's Hip Hop from his dope Kool and The Gang sample laden remix of EPMD's "I'm Mad" (1991) to his legendary verses album on "Brothers On My Jock" and "Hardcore" on EPMD's third album Business As Usual and he is still at it and set to drop Muddy Waters Too later in 2018...Red is one of the greatest to ever wreck a mic device, that is facts but this 26 track deep compilation is to reflect on his stature behind the boards as a Producer (often with Rockwilder) or Co-Producer and contains Non LP cuts, Remixes and other joints, this was requested by Chris Moss of Divided Souls fame so I thought it was only right to share it on J.M.S as well....hope you enjoy it.


JMS Presents - 2018-Redman - Remixes, Non LP Cuts and Production

01 Artifacts -Cummin' Thru Ya F-Kin Block (1994) (Produced by Reggie Noble)
02 Def Squad - You Do, I Do (1998)
03 Diezzle Don andTha Govener - So Now Ya Know (1995) (Co-Produced by Redman)
04 EPMD - I'm Mad (Redman Mix) (1991)
05 Erick Sermon - Do Your Thing (1995)
06 Erick Sermon - Man Above (Feat. Jazze Pha) (1995)
07 Humanreck - Tear Shit Up (Redman Mix) (1998)
08 Jamal - Fades Em All (1995)
09 Jamal - The Game (1995)
10 Keith Murray - Dip Dip Di (1994)
11 Keith Murray - Escapism (1994)
12 Kris Kross - Tonite's Tha Mix (Kris Kross Redman Remix) (1996)
13 Luniz -Hypnotize Ft. Redman (1997)
14 Mel -Low - The Day I Die (1995)
15 Mel-Low - Blaze It Up (Feat. Redman) (1993)
16 Mel-Low - My City (1995)
17 Mel-low - Return of the Player (Astronomical Canibus Mix) (1994)
18 Method Man and Redman - Big Dogs (1999)
19 Mother Superia - Most Of All (1996)
20 MQ3 -Everyday (The Reggie & Roc Remix Radio Version) (Feat. Redman)
21 Quo -Huh What (1994)
22 Redman - Funkorama (Funk Doctor Mix) (1996)
23 Redman - Smoke Buddah (1996)
24 Redman - Where Am I (1995)
25 Redman Feat. E3 - Ride (2003)
26 Shaquille O'Neal ft Keith Murray - Newark To C.I.(1994)

The JMS Fat Tape Vol.3 (2018)

The latest installment...all dope, old and new....enjoy!

The JMS Fat Tape Vol.3 (2018)

01 Showbiz and AG - Hard To Kill (1992)
02 Nice and Smooth - Blunts (1994)
03 Ten Thieves - Straight From The Slums (1995)
04 Dabyre- Tunnel Vision (feat. Guilty Simpson) (2018)
05 O.C. - John Wick (2018)
06 J Scienide - Mystery Science (2018)
07 Damu The Fudgemunk, Flex Mathews - Burners (feat. Insight The Truncator, Blu) (2018)
08 Moodswingaz - Musslin' (1999)
09 Jericho Jackson - Self Made (2018)
10 Apathy - I Keep On (feat. Pharoahe Monch) (Prod. by Pete Rock) (2018)
11 Coops - That Jazz (2018)
12 Black Milk - True Lies (2018)
13 Shorty Long - Shorty'z Doin' His Own Thang (1994)
14 Tribeca Grand - NY-Phi (2018)
15 Class A Felony - I'm Not The Herb You're Lookin' 4 (Chyskillz* Remix) (1993)

R.I.P. Chyskillz

The JMS Joint of the Week: Okey Doke - Pass De Budda Sack (1993) (Final One)

Okey Doke - Pass De Budda Sack

NB: As I will be posting the JMS Fat Tapes on a regular basis, I will no longer be posting the J.M.S. Joint of the Week.

One

The JMS Joint of the Week: Digable Planets - "Where I'm From (Aural G. Ride 12") (1993)

One of the greatest things about Hip Hop music back in the 90's was the sheer diversity in it and NYC's Digable Planets were one trio that held the Jazz/Rap crown proudly, I was listening to their debut album tonight and was transported back to a greater time before the Internet and cellphones, before trash Soundcloud "Rappers" before the industry well and truly massacred and butchered Hip Hop and sold it back to the masses as pieces of ignorance, vanity, superficiality and polluted it with brain-dead, fake and plastic lames riding a wave but the saddest past is that these idiots just cannot see that they are absolute slaves and once their wave is done, they are done! 

Ahem back to the topic haha...DP were so smooth that it should have been a crime, Ladybug Mecca, Doodlebug and Butterfly were clearly students of not just Jazz but Funk and Soul and incorporated this into their music effortlessly with rhymes brimming with positive antidotes and superb production, they still influence Hip Hop and I recently heard a track that was pretty much just "The Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" chopped up.

The remix to "Where I'm From" was simplistic but so dope, a lone clarinet sample drifting in and out over a deep bass and past clipped "Funky Drummer" drums and the video for the original version was just as ill, watching the Digables rhyme while snow fell on them was a sight to behold.



They are still touring and had another reunion in 2016.

"Where I'm From (Aural G. Ride 12')"

Bonus cut: "Dedicated"

2016-J.M.S.-Presents - Non LP Cuts Vol 1

Edit: For some reason I never actually posted this...better late than never right?

Older heads will remember how much of a thrill it was when you would pick up a 12" inch and the artists had included a track that was not on the album that you had on constant rotation...and more often than not you would think why was it not on the album? I mean EPMD's-'Brothers From Brentwood L.I." (often stated as the ultimate B-Side/Non LP cut of all time) would have been perfect on the Business Never Personal album and Das EFX's "Hard Like A Criminal" which would have sat just right on the Dead Serious album.

As would have Gang Starr's "Credit Is Due" on the Step In The Arena album but it would actually have been more in place on the A Daily Operation album.

I never understood why Mic Geronimo's "Hemmin Heads" never made it on The Natural album and how on earth was the superb Lord Finesse produced "22 Years" from Ill Biskits not on their debut album?

Now I know that these compilations have absolutely been done before, hell my man Slurg even had a blog dedicated to the B-Side and Robbie at Unkut has had a decent run down of some as well but I wanted to make my own personal compilation.

From my dusty memory it was around the early or mid 80's when record companies were giving the record buying public a little extra but it really was in the 90's were they became such a staple on a 12" inch, cassingle or CD single.

So here is a compilation I am quite proud of as I think it just feels like an old 90's NYC radio show...and these are certainly some of my all time favourite Non LP/Bonus cuts and B-Sides.

Enjoy

2016-JMS Presents-Non LP Cuts Vol 1

01-Mad Skillz - Skillz In '95 (Dirty Mix) (1995)
02-Casual ft Pep Love - Rock On (1994)
03-EPMD - Brothers From Brentwood L.I. (1992)
04-H20 - Hip Hop Lifestyle (1994)
05-Black Sheep - Still In The Ghetto (1992)
06-Redman ft Roz - I Get Down Like That (1995)
07-Pete Rock and CL Smooth - We Specialize (1996)
08-De La Soul ft Jeff - Mack Daddy On The Left (1989)
09-Del Tha Funkee Homosapien ft Q-Tip, Pep Love - The Undisputed Champs (1993)
10-Gang Starr - Credit Is Due (1991)
11-Ill Biskits - 22 Years (1994)
12-Mic Geronimo - Hemmin' Heads (Cheeba Version) (1994)
13-Shyheim - The B Side-Licka Shot (1994)
14-Greyson & Jasun - No Shortz (1991)
15-Craig Mack - Shinika (1994)
16-Keith Murray - Pay Per View (featuring Passione, LBM, Kel Vicious) (1995)
17-Fat Joe feat. Big Pun and Raekwon - Firewater (1995)
18-Saafir - Pull Ya Card (1994)
19-De La Soul feat. Biz Markie - Lovely How I Let My Mind Float (1993)
20-Kwame - Wake It Up (1992)
21-Mysterme and DJ 2020 - Couldn't Get It Right (1993)

Bonus Joint: Das EFX - "Hard Like A Criminal" (1992)

Mass Appeal Presents DJ Premier Off The Record:

2017 - JMS Presents - EPMD -The Remix Files (Redux)

In celebration of the highly influential Long Island legends Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith's incredible 30 years plus deep in the Rap game and 10 years of the J.M.S. blog (formerly Cold Rock Da Spot), I have re-done a long dead compilation from 2007 and I am giving you pretty much a definitive EPMD compilation of remixes (official and unofficial), Non LP cuts and B-Sides that is 30 tracks deep :)

I really don't need to go into depth about EPMD aka "The Rap American Dream Team" in this post because it has already been written and well documented on this blog that I would definitely consider myself a Super Fan and they are still to me the greatest 2 Man MC duo in Hip Hop history, it's still hard to believe that this 12" happened over 30 years ago and they were known as EPEE MD.

Both E & P are still at it and they are scheduled to release another EPMD album Big Business in 2018.

So a massive salute and thank you to the legendary Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith, Hip Hop, not just for the music but the entire culture would just not be the same without you.

2017 - JMS Presents - EPMD -The Remix Files (Redux) (VBR) 
NB: I decided to post up single links otherwise it will be quite a large file to download.

01 Strictly Business (Club Mix)
02 So Wat Cha Sayin' (Club Version)
03 Crossover (Trunk Mix)
04 I'm Mad (DJ Scratch Jazz Mix)
05 You Gots To Chill (Dub Version)
06 Give The People (Erick & Parrish Remix)
07 Rampage (Hardcore To The Head Mix)
08 Gold Digger (E& P's Remix)
09 Headbanger (Remix Radio Edit)
10 Brothers From Brentwood L.I.
11 Rampage (Remix Extended)
12 Never Seen Before (Remix)
13 I'm Housin' (UK Mix)
14 Get Off The Bandwagon (Remix)
15 I'm Mad (Red Man Mix)
16 It's My Thing (Club)
17 Give The People (Jeep Mix)
18 Symphony 2000 (Remix) (Feat. Redman, Method Man)
19 (Everybody) Get Up (EPMD Diesel Remix)
20 You're A Customer (Club Mix)
21 Crossover (Test Pressing Remix)
22 Strictly Space Rockers Business (Beta Sector Rework)
23 The Big Payback [Club Mix]
24 Knick Knack Patty Wack [Soopafly G-Mix]
25 You Gots To Chill (Chad Jackson Remix)
26 I'm_Housin (Soul Focus Remix)
27 Never Seen Before Vocal (DJ Cash Money Remix)
28 Strictly Business (Return To The Old School Remix)
29 The Main Event Feat. Keith Murray (U.S. Radio Version)
30 Never Seen Before (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)

Bonus Joint :EPMD - Scratch Bring It Back Part 2 Mic Doc Remix (In Living Color Version)

Big props to 1200tech at YouTube for this one.

Fave Hip Hop 12" Covers...

I have been posting up a series of photos on my Instragram and thought I should do it on the JMS blog and include some music to go along with the descriptions...so without further ado, these are some of my all time fave Hip Hop 12" covers (I will add to this post each time I post up at IG)

Always loved this one: Redman in the corner mean grilling it and sporting a wild fro, a Philly blunt in hand and rocking a Carharrt hoodie with a city buildings and blue sky backdrop, "Rockafella" was the lead single release from Red's classic second LP, Dare Iz A Darkside (1994) (go back to this album if you haven't heard it in years).

The flipside of this 12" was also ill, it featured Red and DJ Twins rocking black skullies (Red's was a Carhartt one) and laced up Timberland boots (DJ Twins) and hoodies and the photo was shot in what looks to be under a bridge or overpass.

"Rockafella" is not necessarily the greatest thing Redman has done but it was still dope and the remix provided by Erick Sermon gave heads a taste of what his sophomore solo album Double or Nothing would be like.

Redman - Rockafella (Remix)



Next one up soon...

J.M.S. Joint of The Week: Natural Mystics - How It Go (1996)

This has always been one of those joints for me..."How it Goes" sports a lovely flute sample, smooth as butter bass-line and laid-back drum pattern supplied by the dope producer and emcee Pretzel's Logic make this joint from the short lived Queens crew Natural Mystics definitely one to revisit or check out if you haven't heard this before.

I'd write up more but there is very little known about this crew and Pretzel's Logic unfortunately.

Bonus Joints: Pretzel's Logic - Who U Think (1995) (Produced by Kuzzin Biff)

J.M.S. Presents - Sum Ol 92 Ish! Vol. 2

J.M.S. Presents - Sum Ol' 92 Ish! Vol. 2

01 Zhigge- Rakin' In The Dough (Uptown Bounce Mix)
02 College Boyz - Underground Blues
03 Yall So Stupid - 85 South (Soul Messiah Mix)
04 Eric B. & Rakim - Rest Assured
05 3rd Bass - Gladiator (Easy Mo Bee Remix)
06 Moving In The Right Direction - Tales From The Southside
07 Scoob & Scrap - Non Stop (Original Mix)
08 Raw Breed - Rollin Deep
09 Foundation 7 - Compredator
10 Suicide Posse - My Science Is Deep
11 K-Swift - Bang Bang
12 Ali Dee ft Kool G Rap - Bring It On (Vocal)
13 Me Phi Me - Pu' Sho Hands 2 Getha (Fist N Yo' Face Mix)
14 Father Dom - Grand Pooba (Radio Mix)
15 Prince Ikey Cee - Rhyme En Epitome

Here

One 

J.M.S. Joint of The Week: 499 - "Don't Categorize Me" (1995)

Oh man I let this series slip didn't I?...yeah well Parenthood (our adorable little one turns 2 next February and she loves her beats and music, just like her Dad haha) and this confusing, intriguing, amazing, overwhelming, heartbreaking, puzzling and muddling thing we know as Life can take over so without further ado...

This week's joint of the week comes from a short lived South London duo known as 499 which consisted of DJ Pelt and MC Merit, "Don't Categorize Me" could have easily been produced by an NYC producer as it is rife with jazzy horns, familiar breaks, a great Big Daddy Kane vocal cut and smooth and  rumbling bass but it was produced by DJ Pelt who definitely could have a much longer run, my guess is that this record didn't sell very well for Profile UK so they got dropped and got dismayed by the whole industry...and really who could blame them?

I suggest that you go back and check the Still Waitin LP, it's pretty dope and yet another reminder of how fortunate we really were in the 90's.

Until the next one.

Peace

J.M.S. Presents - Sum Ol 92 Ish!

Word is born! I will always hold 1992 as the greatest year in Hip Hop music after 1988, both years had such an abundance of consistency dope releases, genre defining music, smorgasbords of styles and of course '92 was a pinnacle year for legendary and iconic greats like EPMD and The Hit Squad, Gang Starr, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, D.I.T.C 
as well as a whole slew of other established artists and mad independent artists.

It's actually quite staggering that all of these tracks are or will reach their 25th year anniversary in 2017 and I personally think they all still sound really dope and are only a small handful of tracks that define the sound, creativity, soul and true character of 92.

R.I.P.
Big-L
Guru
Chris Charity (Solid Scheme)

Enjoy...

J.M.S. Presents - Sum Ol 92 Ish!

01 EPMD-Crossover (Trunk Mix)

02 Double X Posse - Put Ya Boots On

03 Das EFX -They Want EFX (Remix)

04 K-Solo - Letterman (Solid Scheme Remix)

05 Lord Finesse - Return Of The Funky Man

06 Black Sheep - Similak Child (Homogenized Mix)

07 Showbiz And A.G. - Represent (feat. Big L, Deshawn, Lord Finesse)

08 Diamond And The Psychotic Neurotics - Fuck What U Heard

09 Main Source - Fakin' The Funk (Remix)

10 Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - For Pete's Sake

11 Rough House Survivers - Straight From The Soul

12 Powerule - Pass The Vibes (The Vibe Mix)

13 Gang Starr - Much Too Much (Mack A Mill)

14 Chubb Rock- I'm Too Much (Hands On The Sax Mix)

15 Mysterme, DJ 2020 - Unsolved Mysterme

J.M.S. Joint of The Week: Juice With Soul - "Body Armour" (1993)

Juice With Soul (Juice and Soul) was one of those groups that had a minor hit in the 90's, ("Gang Lingo" with Lt. Stitchie) which was a firm radio and club fave in 1993) dropped a decent album on a major label (Atlantic) and then vanished into the ether, this was sort of the case for this duo of Bostonites but member Juice/Big Juan later went on to be a part of the Kreators who are probably best known for the superb posse cut "Home" (which featured the late, great Guru).

"Body Armour" lifted UK legend's Soul II Soul's "Fairplay" drums to great effect and some smooth horns in the hook while tales of corrupt cops are told.

Sadly Juice/Big Juan lost his battle to cancer in April of 2016.



Bonus Joint: "To The Uumhm" which sports one of the greatest piano loops used in the 90's and the fat "Zimba Ku" drums.

One

J.M.S. Joint of The Week: EPMD - "Do It Again" (1997)

This week's joint of the week is from (as you would already well know) my all time fave MC team EPMD and while I dive into Erick Sermon's lengthy resume, I'm starting to wonder why he never gets mentioned alongside DJ Premier and Pete Rock, Dilla and Marley Marl when he has done so much for not only Hip Hop but R&B & Reggae/Hip Hop as well and while I'm not a fan he has also produced some commercial material that should have seen him earn big bucks but it didn't really happen and I wonder if he regrets supplying dope beats for overblown and overrated fraudulent rappers?...who knows lol

"Do It Again" is "Green Eyed Bandit Funk" formula for sure but damn it works, when I first heard this back in 1997 on their comeback album "Back In Business" I was surprised that E-Dub had not usedTom Browne's classic Jazz Funk number "Funkin' For Jamaica" before, sure E had used elements of it in L.O.D.'s "Feel It" (1996) and a few other joints but he hadn't used it like he did on "Do It Again" incorporating elements of it
and I suspect it might have been difficult to chop up as there is a lot of busy vocal work among the instruments but E flipped it superbly and Erick and Parrish throw rhymes back like and forth like old times and sound right at home.

The Back In Business LP certainly had it's moments but it's not overly an essential EPMD album in my view, some tracks felt a bit thrown together and they were capable of much better, still it is worth revisiting and this track was one of the highlights for me.

Bonus Joint: L.O.D. -"I Feel It"

Peace