What's good all...
It's very clear that you kids really appreciate the fat tapes (yes I know they are not actually a mixtape, so let's go back to saying that they are fat tapes) and as I was going through some of my old junk to be thrown out, I found my old JVC tapedeck.
It was mad busted like Victoria Beckham (now that's busted),had buttons missing and was just dead, but when I saw it for the first time since... I think 1994/5 so many memories came back and I got a little teary eyed but then I thought...I know what I am going to call my fat tapes from now on.
The selection here is complied of some tracks that were rocked on my old JVC tapedeck (not the one pictured, but very close) and other joints I would have given play time too if CD's and Mp3's weren't around and it was still functional.
In case your wondering, the answer is YES...since I first heard LL rhyme "My JVC vibrates the concrete" and the JVC Force I always wanted one and got one for either a birthday or Christmas present, it was a single deck and had bass and treble controls and I tagged Masta Jaz on it ha ha... I was sorry to see it go...but what bugs me out, is the fact that today's kids and the next kids and the ones after that are going to look at cassette tapes as antiques.
I don't think these young i-podders know how lucky they are, no changing the tape over, no rewinding back the tape to hear your fave track again,no pulling the tape out and splicing it carefully and adding a tiny bit of sellotape to fix the problem and no having the tape spaz out and end up with you pulling the mangled tape out and sighing.
I was chatting with my Father about Reel to Reels and video tape and he said, I think today's generation will know about tapes but not vinyl, I told him no Dad you are wrong about that, vinyl is still around and there are a few online stores (but they are dying out) and specialist stores out there for the avid vinyl collector...but tapes?...they don't even sell them in stores anymore.
It was interesting conversation because imagine what the kids in 30 years will have...phew technology...damn
I love this site...sniff...sniff brings tears to the eyes...
http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com
Enjoy the fat tape and as always my sincere thanks for the props, feedback and comments.
1-The Whoridas-Taxin' (1997)
Produced by J Groove
from the Whoridin LP (1997)
Delicious Vinyl
Saafir's younger brother King Saan and his rhyming partner Mr T .....flex that good ol' Bay Area style over J-Groove's chopped up "Impeach" drums, additional rolling drums and eerie synth stabs to great effect, if you know Saafir's material and Hobo Junction then you will dig this and while it's not as bugged production wise like some of the Hobo material it knocks and the bass will make your speakers quake...what more do you need?
2-E.T'z (Evil Twinz)-Ray Came True (1996)
Produced by True Da Grynch
from the Ray Came True 12" (1996)
Zestland
Underground kids from the 90's must remember this one, it was rocked on a few radio shows and mixtapes back in the day but as it stands the 12" is pretty rare but you can still get it at Record Inspector in my search box...>
A Massive Thank You to my friend Dave for the hook up, I forgot how dope this was, kicked off by an off the hook Raekwon sample (well it's actually Wu Tang but it's Rae's voice),a Biggie vocal sample, head pounding drums (I forget who the original artist was these drums were lifted from though sorry) and Ray Boogie and True Da Grynch wrecking shit on the m.i.c., The Evil Twinz came through Frankie Cutlass in 1993 when he produced Madstyle's Redrum, and Faces of Death on his The Frankie Cutlass show album (Hoody records).
Ray and True also appeared on his dope Boriquas On Da Set and the classic Cutlass joint Puerto Rico...hooooooo...oh Puerto Rico...
3-Da Henchmen-Flippin Wit Da Henchmen (1994)
Produced by The Tic
from the What U Gonna Do 12" (1994)
II Cyde Records
Boom, more 90's NYC underground madness,horns, pianos, kicking drums,and an eerie organ appearing in and out of the mix, made up this dope joint, what I love about this the most is you can tell that this was one hell of a recording session and each MC just rips it with that mid 90's rapid, fast style and in your face delivery.
Oh yeah, guess who else were on this track?, clue: the last joint...yup Ray & True join in the it's Da Henchmen!!! chants while Tank,Mental Flex and Big Jam have a fervent pass the mic session, the A-Side What You Gonna Do is fat as well.
I recently saw this on eBay for US $285...I am sure you can get it much cheaper than that....
4-World Renown-Shoowa Showa (1995)
Produced by K-Def
from the lost World Renown LP (1995)
http://www.myspace.com/worldrenown
Ahhhhh the super dope def producer, nope not Hurby Luv Bug but K-Def has kindly released the lost World Renown (Shawn Seven & John Doe) album at his My Space page and even though there are 3 tracks missing, it is still exactly what you expected.
http://www.myspace.com/worldrenown
K-Def samples an old school chant from the timeless Grandmaster Flash-Flash on The Beatbox (you know Gangstarr's You Know My Steez) for the hook, which was first flipped by the Jungle Brothers (you can figure out which track...:P) and here K drops a butter smooth bassline, classic 90's drums and yep, of course horns, while Shawn and Joe are truly indeed the icing on the cake...
Thanks K-Def I never thought I would hear this album and it hasn't left my headphones all week.
5-U.G.O. (Unbiased Ghetto Opinion)-Blowin Spots (1995)
Produced by Kuba Havana and UGO
from the Blowin Spots 12" (1995)
Capitol Records
A solid mid 90's head nodder that was fairly sparse but very effective,UGO's flow was liquid and he makes you pay attention to his lines.
He was raised in the old DC Nigerian Embassy and an LA based recording artist when he dropped an album titled Earthquakin Afrikan, it was pretty solid and Cee Knowledge (ex Digable Planets) helped out on some of the beats as well as vocal appearances.
Last I heard about him, he moved to the UK but I am unaware of any recordings he has done since, although I did read that one track he had done titled Bran Nu Flow had reached over 50 million listeners on Nigerian Radio Stations...impressive
video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYng5LZdhis
6-Joint Ventures-Itz Da Joint (remix) (1993)
Produced by Joint Ventures
from the Itz Da Joint 12", original version appears on the Itz Da Joint LP
Profile
It's actually not intentional that I run a lot of Boston Hip Hop on my fat tapes, it's just that a lot of dope crews and MC's came out of Boston and although Joint Ventures aren't really remembered, this remix was in my opinion better than anything on their fairly good debut album, the hard hitting drums and that freaking familiar sample (my brain can't cope anymore, I think my mind library is shutting down...ha ha) give the track a new life. hype
7-Rass Kass ft Saafir & Ahmad-Come Widdit (Joe Quixx remix) (1995)
Produced by Joe Quixx
from the Come Widdit 12" (1995)
Priority
I guess due to the nature of their being so many blogs out there now that someone will always beat you to a post...for example:
http://journals.aol.com/wvwalenrod/werners/entries/2007/06/28/we-went-all-around-the-planet-pitchin-and-no-one-hit-it/950
I did up this comp up in the last few weeks and just saw Werner Von Wallenrod's dedication to this great track is a great read but I have to disagree that the Fredwreck remix is better Werner, I prefer the Joe Quixx remix, due to the ill laid back vibe and how much it sounds like Slum Village's Fall In Love.
Werner saved me from breaking down the artists so check his page and enjoy this remix.
8-Babbletron-Belle Pt 1 and 2 (2003)
Produced by DJ Pre
from the Ramblers Anonymous EP (2003)
Embedded
Cool Calm Pete's first group,New York's unique Babbletron (Cool Calm Pete, DJ Pre & Jaymanila)
It's probably unlikely that Babbletron will release another album, but I can definitely see myself listening to Mechanical Royalty in 10 years, it was a very interesting and different album and it came as no surprize that Cool Calm Pete ended up as a Def Jux signee but what happened to Jaymanila?, he was ill too remember his line beatbox like a sadomasochistic lesbian, that should go into the greatest rhymes of all time book in my opinion.
Belle Pt 1 and 2 starts off with a breezy flamenco guitar samples,light drums and Cool Calm Pete on the mic, while Jay teams up with Pete on the harder twisted electronica second half, an interesting track and a taste of what was to come on Pete's dope solo LP, Lost (2005).
9-Epidemic Massive-Dedicated (2002)
Produced by Vega One
from the album Rated E (2002)
Ill Productos Recordings
Out of underground Los Angeles, is/was Epidemic Massive a seven Man crew consisting of Boston's Crush-One, DocDaWhoo?, J.L.C, Brub,Minus, Sneek and Vega-One, I once had correspondence with Vega One and he was a very cool kid that was pleased that his music was getting played down in little old Wellington, New Zealand.
The album Rated E is well worth checking and the cut I chose Dedication is evident of this, an infectious guitar loop,nice drums,bass and well chosen De La Soul, Diamond D and Run DMC vocal samples work well, as do the MC's and the chemistry of the crew, which it's isn't surprising as E.M. had all been friends since 1992.
As far as I know they did just the one album and also appeared on Mums The Word's-People Keep Movin LP (2002), Crush has appeared on records with Sktizofreniks, Illin P and Rip Shop, Vega One did beats on Konfident's Kraftwork album in 2003
.
10-Big Shug featuring Ed O.G. & Scientifik-Official (1996)
Produced by: Bless One
from the Crush 12" (1996)
Payday/FFRR
A Boston classic to these ears, every MC on this sounds so smooth on the laidback drums, swirling horns and piano and dusty Craig Mack vocal sample supplied by Bless One.
Ed, Shug and the late, great Scientifik were all repping Boston to the fullest on this one, I know a lot of people that preferred the DJ Premier produced Crush, but over the years I have listened to this one a lot more and it's just dope, so was Crush but this is just well, butter smooth.
NB: The recent DJ Premier produced Play It is really dope and I can't tell you how good it is to hear the Man working with breaks again.
11-Encore-The Undercover (Architect remix) (1999)
Produced by Architect
from the Peanut Butter Wolf-A Tale of 5 Cities EP (1999)
Stones Throw
Ahhhh, this was indeed a sign of things to expect from Encore and the very under rated producer The Architect (then known as G Luv), it doesn't get any smoother than this, a smooth and laid back groove, late night jazz horns and Encore weaves a wicked tale about drug dealers, My Colombian source made it plain, he says political clowns consider this trickled down for the fiscal sale.
I can never get enough of this, it's like one scene in a movie that you want to repeat time and time again.
12-The Wascals-Big Shit, Battleship (2007)
Produced by J-Swift
from the Wascals-The Greatest Hits LP (2007)
Delicious Vinyl
YES you must know by now that this long lost gem has FINALLY been given it's due release, it was supposed to come out in 1994 and there even ads in old Rap Pages and The Source saying coming soon...but The Wascals got dropped and the album just sat on the master reels collecting dust...until 2007*
A double CD has been issued with instrumentals and remixes and the album is stupid fat, J-Swift was such a talented producer and always bought a certain vibe to his records...
Buckweed, St-Imey,A.L.-Phie & Spit-Anky, tear the mic to shreds on this joint, heavy drums, bass and horns, you can tell this is classic J Swift production because you expect Fatlip and the rest of the Pharcyde crew to pop up any second...you really should purchase this album.
NB: You may or may not know that Buckwheat has had moderate solo success as Buc Fifty.
13-Cinemaddicts-Playing God (2003)
Produced by Tone Atlas
from the Notes from The Underground LP (2003)
Who knew that Buffalo had a great underground Hip Hop scene?, not me until I heard this in 2003 and thought wow this is dope, a lovely piano sets the tone alongside head nodding drums and somber bass while message driven lyrics make you pay attention and the Vera Lynn (I think) sample at the end is a nice lasting touch.
Members of 2 Buffalo underground Hip Hop groups,Pseudo Intellectuals and Catastrophic Mind teamed up in 2003 as the Cinemaddicts and released a good debut album, overflowing with intelligent rhymes, interesting production and great beats.
Playing God is one of the highlights from this album and someone tell me if they know if they did anything else please.
14-Trendz of Culture-Make A Move (1995)
Produced by Easy Mo Bee
from the Make A Move 12" (1995)
Mad Sounds
Now this is easy (no pun indented honest)... It's Easy Mo Bee behind the boards and Trendz of Culture on the mic devices does anything more need to be said?
15-Alphabet Soup-The Resurrection of Gertude (1991)
Produced By Yasin Gregg
from the A Sunny Day in Harlem EP (1991)
Afrika Recordings Inc
Yasin himself has been kind enough to leave props and comments and you all know how high I regard Alphabet Soup and I did say I would have another classic joint of theirs and you remember how LL Cool J (His new material is so wack these days, avoid at all costs) had a track titled 6 Minutes of Pleasure?...You do?...this was the joint he was talking about...it has to be because this is indeed six minutes of aural pleasure.
oh and Yasin, I'm not playing spot the sample with you this time...ha ha, no actually is that Jackson 5 in there?...
NB: If you heard or seen another Alphabet Soup with an LP titled Laying Low In The Cut or a Take A Ride single, please note that this is not the same group.
16-Dred Scott-Nutin Ta Lose (Marley Marl remix) (1993)
Produced by Marley Marl
from the Nutin Ta Lose 12" (1993)
Tuff Break
Yes, Dred Scott of the infamous Breakin Combs album had a track remixed by Marley Marl and listening to makes you think 2 things.
1-Is this actually a K-Def remix that Marley took credit for
2-Was this beat left over from the Intelligent Hoodlum-Saga of a Hoodlum sessions?
Because the beat and Dred's flow sounds very familiar, not that it's a bad thing it's just interesting, anyway the remix is good and worth hearing and my Man Riffs's cousin worked with Dred during the time of recording that album so I will find out the answers soon enough.
17-D-Auguste-Web of Deception (1999)
Produced by Dialek
from the Not 2 Far 12" (1999)
Ill Tunes
I have always enjoyed the Boston bred,D-Auguste's flow and records and it's a shame that he never did a full album, the same goes for Dialek (Paw Dukes,Ed OG,Laster, Concrete Clik & Krumb Snatcha) who was a great and under rated producer.
I guess with underground and independent music that's just the way it is, as not everyone gets to hear it and even though this joint is from 1999 it still stands up on its own today, sweeping cinematic strings, hard drums and honest and genuine rhymes from D-Auguste after he dedicates the joint to his late Father.
Come back Dialek and D-Auguste Hip Hop needs you.
18-Liberation-Fallen (2003)
Produced by J.J. Brown
from the By Any Means-Saturday 12" (2003)
B.U.K.A. Entertainment
In my opinion this should have been the A-Side of this 12", the Maestro produced Saturday was okay but nothing great and the J Rawls produced Off The Top by Wordsworth was good but not Rawls or Words best work, that's why Liberation's- Fallen is the clear winner.
A laidback jazzed out track that gives the listener visions of dimmed lights in a small bar early in the morning, Liberation bless the mic with heartfelt rhymes about life and yes of course the female species over soothing horns, pianos and drums...if you haven't heard this you will remember it, and if you had heard it and not for a while enjoy it again.
19-Yah Supreme-Hands Hide Loneliness (Off The Corner remix) (2004)
Produced by Jazz E Cut
from the Hands Hide Loneliness 12" (2004)
Underground Academy
I have always been a fan of Yah Supreme and it does surprise me he isn't larger, he has a great voice, is sincere, writes great rhymes and has dope production behind him.
"yes another tree grows in Brooklyn,your overlooking the only MC that you shouldn't"
This version contains all of what I mentioned above and has a beautiful vocal sample running through it, pianos and a little percussion from Parisian producer Jazz E Cut, seek this out and his earlier material and you won't be disappointed.
20-Blueprint ft Illogic-Favorite Things (1999)
Produced by Blueprint
from the Illogic-Unforeseen Shadows LP (1999)
This is for me one of Blueprint's greatest ever production moments, I love how he has placed the slow guitar samples from the left to the right speaker, the stirring vocal from the favorite things sample during the end and the way Print and Illogic work so well together.
(NB: I'm not 100% sure but I think the sample is Sergio Mendes version of My Favorite Things)
I could on about this for days but I won't, just listen to it and make your own mind up and look out for the new Weightless Recordings, More Music, Less Bullshit compilation...it's available at the Weightless store.
the jvc tapedeck fat tape vol 1
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DR18OJ34
very special thanks to
Riffs and his Family
Illest 22
Sense
Aps
DDD
Dave
AL
and all of the blog readers and fans and those that e-mail me, you know I appreciate it...
Until next time
Peace
