Sunday, March 29, 2009

Showbiz & A.G. "Broken Chains" (Unreleased 1990-1992)


Showbiz & A.G. - Broken Chains (Soul Clap & Runaway Slave Unreleased 1990-1992)

Well this time we were not the first to get it or host it, but you can't win every race, right. Big up to Jaz, Crates Of AG, Freestyle Records, Unkut, and The Beatbox Radio Show.

This also bring us to this week's poll. Last week we ran a poll on live shows, and voters decided, by a very slim margin, that the Wu-Tang Clan put on the best performance out of the old schoolers still touring. De La came in second. This week, however, we're voting on the best recently unearthed rarity that T.R.O.Y. has hosted, including the one that is the subject of this post, so move on down to the right sidebar and cast your ballot. An informed vote is the best kind, so click on the link under the poll to catch up.

And now back to Showbiz & A.G. "Broken Chains."

Here's the download: CLICK

Here's the info:

Showbiz & A.G. – Broken Chains: Soul Clap & Runaway Slave Unreleased, 1990-1992

Previously thought lost forever, these masters recently resurfaced and have yielded a treasure trove of unreleased vocal and instrumental tracks from the incredibly fruitful recording sessions leading up to one of the most important Hip Hop albums of all time.

Included in this package are three previously unreleased original versions for songs produced by Showbiz that would eventually become Soul Clap EP and Runaway Slave LP classics but in different forms. Also included, from the same sessions, is a previously unreleased Diamond D production featuring A.G. Finally, rounding out the package, are 7 unreleased instrumental productions by Showbiz from the Runaway Slave sessions. As a special bonus, Freestyle Records has thrown in an untitled cut by D-Flow & Party Arty from 1995 produced by Showbiz.

Due to the importance of this project, Freestyle Records has chosen to release these 12 cuts on a double vinyl format with a picture cover as follows:

Showbiz & A.G. – Broken Chains: Soul Clap & Runaway Slave Unreleased, 1990-1992
All tracks produced by Showbiz unless otherwise noted

A-Side
1) Instrumental 1, 1991-1992

2) Diggin' In The Crates OG Version, 1990
(The second track ever recorded by Showbiz & A.G. [after Soul Clap]. Different verse from Showbiz, different track with extended piano sample. More energy than released version.)

3) Instrumental 2, 1991-1992


B-Side:
4) Instrumental 3, 1991-1992

5) To Each His Own (More Than One Way Out Of The Ghetto OG), 1991
(Similar lyrics, different track. More melodic, less dark than released version.)

6) Instrumental 4, 1991-1992
(sample later used by Show for You Want It, left unreleased off Goodfellas LP in 1995)


C-Side:
7) Instrumental 5, 1991-1992
(sample later used by The Beatminerz for Smif-N-Wessun’s Bucktown in 1994)

8 ) Hard To Kill OG Version, 1991
(Different beat [uses Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 beat {sampled from TV} from Malcolm X intro on released version], different track, no shouted chorus [instead uses scratched in vocal samples {all five from A.G. on It’s Up To You}], one new verse, [first verse of released version is second verse here on OG]. Harder than released version.)

9) Instrumental 6, 1991-1992


D-Side:
10) I'm Convinced, 1992 (Previously unreleased, produced by Diamond D)

11) Instrumental 7, 1991-1992

12) Untitled feat D. Flow & Party Arty, 1995 (Bonus Cut, previously unreleased)
Enjoy! - Thun

19 comments:

  1. Thanks to all involved.

    And of course all these new "unearthed rarities" are fantastic, but The Ill Funk Freaker was so flawless it is criminal.

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  2. Word. I forgot this was even dropping. Listening right now. Damn, they were so on with the beats at that time. Thanks to everyone involved in unearthing this and uploading it.

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  3. Txs for posting! Dopest Gem so far, also props again for FTD for sharing it and ripping it in very good quality as usual. Lets hope Diamond D will be next in line

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  4. Thanks. I got so much stuff downloaded and I'm always like "okay, I'm good for 10 years, I'm not gonna download anything else", then you post something like this.

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  5. T.R.O.Y, I have a request....

    The instrumental to Funky Piano by E Bros.

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  6. @anonymous- Roy Johnson included that E.Bros instrumental in one of his Les Mccann Sample Compilations.Here- http://philaflava.blogspot.com/2009/02/les-mccann-samples-volume-1.html

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  7. Thanks Verge. I've been looking for that for like 10 years.

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  8. I never realised that "winning the race" to jack links and post as your own was such a big deal.

    Great LP - props to nobody else but Ed Catto for putting this out. Shame the people who put the real work in never get the same respect as leeches like Jaz who jack links!

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  9. Anonymous why don't you become a man and let us know who you are? Better yet provide an email so we can have a dialog like adults. It's so easy to make blanket statements while incognito.

    We provided a link as did many blogs/sites because its great music. Those who download have the option of purchasing that music, but it doesn't mean they will. You should very well know those who has zero intention of spending $30, $50, $100 or whatever it is that these vinyls cost probably were not going to do anything but download anyways.

    However: there are a small fraction of people (like myself) who like to sample before they invest especially in these difficult economic times. What we're doing is opening up folks to music such as this release. We're putting it out there for you to make your decision. If we did, nobody would talk, care or know about releases such as this.

    It's a give and take, always has been and we do both. In this case we're giving and hopefully you do more than taking once you click that link.

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  10. Listen - I'm not trying to start some pointless beef - just pointing out that it would be nice to see a little respect given to those who work hard pitting this stuff out. I know that vinyl is a niche market and there are a whole lot of people who won't spend the cash, but when you get folks giving a "world premiere" to Main Source as if it's a big deal or not even crediting Haj (One Leg Up) then it's a sorry state of affairs.

    Instead of the petty internet squabbles between Philaflava and whoever the fuck FTD are, how about posting links so people can buy this stuff.. This post barely evens credits Ed Catto - just backslaps for Jaz who didn't even have anything to do with the release. Bit of a kick in the teeth for those who hustled to make this happen.

    Like I say, I'm not here to start some e-beef (For the record (no pun) - you have a good blog here).

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  11. How should we have posted this, download the Show & AG vinyl but thanks to Ed Catto for putting this out? I get what you're saying but every release we cover we don't typically shout-out the label owner. If we cover the Traffic reissues are we going to give props to Bob Perry? One Leg got plenty of press because of us. You know how Ed will get his props, when you buy the record from him. Besides Ed is considered a god on our message boards. Do you frequent them? The dude has the sickest collection ever and gets more than enough props. But this is about the music and we can't please everyone, though it looks like we do on a daily basis.

    Again why are you anonymous? Come join us on the forums and share your thoughts.

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  12. The link to Crates of AG includes a posting of the letter from the King of All Kings, Ed Catto, blessed be his hallowed name.

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  13. It's so easy to run your mouth and be anonymous isn't it?

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  14. Jaz - get back to trying to win friends by jacking links.

    A good journalist usually credits the source..

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  15. Jaz – your comments (pre & post removal) are a little hypocritical. Petty name calling from behind the protection of your PC isn’t exactly “being a man”. You sound like Dres on “U mean I’m not”..

    Listen – I have no major beef with you. I simply mentioned your name as you were credited at the start of this post (and on the forum) & were congratulated in a manner which I found unfair to those that put in work to get this music released.

    You’ve since given props to Ed and those who made the effort to release this and I applaud you for that.

    The strength of this blog (and indeed your own) put in work to make themed posts – e.g. mixtapes themed by geography, by crew, by topic etc & generally contains out of print music that some may not have. Where this blog falls down is where it feels it needs to compete with other sites that leak ‘new’ (commercially available) music and make a ‘song and dance’ about being the first to air it on the internet. These posts rarely give props to those who have put the effort in & the irony is that the forum blatantly slates those that put the music out (admittedly based on the price of the releases).

    Suggestion – why doesn’t philaflava support some of the artists by putting out a project. The forum members claim that they would support a [for example] Godfather Don EP if it were $20 and on CD as well as vinyl. Why not put that to the test? The forum obviously has a strong, loyal following – could you not do a project in the same way that DWG and VA have done?

    Oh – by the way – not all the anonymous comments are by the same person. The most recent anonymous posting just happens to be by a fella who shares my viewpoint!!

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  16. Anonymous - I really wish you put a name with your posts so we can identify who we're addresses since like you said there could be many anonymous people leaving feedback.

    RE: our support or lack of - well I think our Sounds Like The 90's is exactly that. Many of the tracks we use are given to us directly by the artists and I always go out of my way to credit, link and drive awareness to said artists. You really don't see the support in what we do when we throw up pieces on Now Born Click or Mr. Live? Ever hear of my 2 compilations A League of Our Own? Both volumes showcased talent and promoted awareness.

    Doing what DWG is great but it's not always profitable and it can be time consuming. I think it's unfair to make blanket statements when you aren't all that familiar with what we have done and continue to do, And not just on the blog but on our site as well. Not every post we do on TROY is for the artists. Let's be real here, we cater to the listener. We're all fans of this shit and you wouldn't believe the amount of love and support we get from legends in the game. People know our intentions, but obviously some of you don't see it our way.

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  17. What an original and daring observation. I see that you too, chose to remain anonymous. Well, if I paid that much money for a single piece of vinyl I'd keep a low profile as well, so I can't blame you. Although I should say that the money should have probably went to to your choice of Hooked on Phonics or Reading Is Fundamental.

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