Sunday, February 28, 2010

Planet Asia W/Gold Chain Military & DJ Babu @Fat Beats LA In-Store


On February 26, Fat Beats LA hosted a double In-Store for the releases of Planet Asia & Gold Chain Military - Chain Of Command and DJ Babu - The Beat Tape Vol.2. Led by Planet Asia(Fresno,CA), Killer Ben, Tristate(LA), and Sav Killz(Brooklyn,NY) of GCM performed tracks off their new album with DJ Babu on the turntables. The album features production from Alchemist, Large Professor, DJ Babu, Evidence, Masterkraftsmen, and more... GCM brings back real lyricism and style to hip-hop with the new album "Chain of Command". Go Cop It!

Tash of Tha Alkaholiks and Prince Po of Organized Konfusion dropped by Fat Beats to show some love and they freestyled with GCM over Babu's beat from The Beat Tape Vol.2.

-- Thomas V

For More Videos, GCM @Youtube.

Guru in a coma?



If anyone has info about this please let us know. We're told his sister Tricia said he is currently in a coma after suffering from cardiac arrest. Our prayers go out to Keith Elam and his family. --Philaflava

Friday, February 26, 2010

Put your hands together...



You might be scratching your head right wondering what this post is about but if you're familiar with the above clip you'll know exactly where I'm going. For a few years now The T.R.O.Y. Blog has been putting in work day in and day out. Sometimes you have to sit back and just marvel at what we've accomplishment throughout these years. You just have to.

It's true we've lost some great contributors over the years, but we've also gained some great contributors as well. See T.R.O.Y. has never been about one person, it's has always been a collaborative effort. It's important to remind you all of the work that is put in. From the ripping to the writing to the tagging to the scheduling. It's no secret we do this blog for you. So allow us to bask in our glory, to ego trip or even just be on our own dicks because pound for pound there isn't a throwback blog that is even on our level. I'm certainly not trying to paint us as the smug blog, but we're confident in the work we've done and will continue to do.

2010 started off with strong and hasn't stopped one bit. Sounds Like The 90s will resume in March, the Producer Spotlights and Touring The States both will be in full E.F.F.E.C.T. too. Our brother from another blogger, Thun Diddy will be debuting his new blog Actual Facts very soon as well.

As you can see we're expanding and tackling new eras, new subjects and trying our best to hit you from every Kurt Angle. But for now, sit back, relax, maybe catch up on some our of latest pieces and get ready for us to do our thug thizzle in 2010. Thank you for your continued support, your motivation, praise, hate and most importantly your time.

Sincerely,

The T.R.O.Y. Blog Squad

Cenzi Stiles
dirt_dog
Echo Leader
Markshot
Philaflava
Schenectady Fan
ThomasV
Verge
Vincent Lopez

Raekwon The Chef “Latest & Greatest Hits [Promo Cassette]” (1995)

I had mentioned in the forum a few days ago that I stumbled across a box of old tapes in my basement. Some mixtapes, some promo samplers, some custom tapes from the days of trading. After posting a short list, it looks like the people have spoken and they want to hear just about all of them. So first up is Raekwon's 1995 promo cassette sampler for the upcoming release of "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx." Nothing mind blowing here, but an exclusive freestyle and (at the time) an advance opportunity to hear a couple album cuts. NOTE: all scans are included in the .rar file as well as a full scan of the sleeve.

DOWNLOAD

enjoy,
--dirt_dog

Gravediggaz “Rare & Remixed Volume 3” (Non-Album Tracks)

And finally, here is "Rare & Remixed Volume 3." This last volume is made up of tracks that I found after 2000 and up to the present. Most are random, unofficial remixes or mash-ups. Some good, some decent and a couple whatevers. But the first two tracks are from the advance copy of Prince Paul's "Hip-Hop Gold Dust." When the retail came out, "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" was mysteriously missing. And yes, about 30 seconds in to "Constant Elevation" there is some kind of hiss sounds. That's how it was on the DAT and Prince Paul apologized for it in the liner notes. As an added bonus, I have included the scene rip of the Gravediggaz "Demo Tape" and a very nice 8 track "Halloween Mashup EP" by DJ Cheekyboy. There are also a good assortment of unofficial Gravediggaz remixes on YouTube if you get some free time.


DOWNLOAD VOLUME 3 - PART 1

DOWNLOAD VOLUME 3 - PART 2

enjoy,
--dirt_dog

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Source: February 1993 issue featuring Run-DMC



Way back in ‘82/’83, there was a time when I believed hip-hop could get no better than Melle Mel. My uncle had every Sugarhill Record ever released but when he came home with “The Message” record, it blew my little kid ears away. Later, when he bought “White Lines” and “Beat Street”, it solidified that thought in my mind. Melle Mel was the king of hip-hop to me and no one would ever replace him. Funny how hip-hop had a way of evolving though. I don’t know where or when I first heard “Sucker MC’s” but my mind immediately began a tug of war with Run vs. Melle Mel. I was so enamored with the seemingly hungrier Run that I remember saving my lunch money as a little boy to buy Run-DMC's very first tape, which I still have to this day. I couldn’t wait for my uncle to buy the album this time. I needed my own copy. And as bears love honey, you could not separate me from that tape until their second album dropped. So please understand me when I say that I was very leery of a Run-DMC’ return in ’93. They were and still are the greatest group in hip-hop to me but the 1990 album, Back from Hell, left a very bad sound in my ears. The group as I had known them had ceased to exist. But once again, it’s funny how hip-hop had evolved once more and their career was briefly resurrected and saved by the one and only Pete Rock. They were older, more mature, focused and displaying an outwardly Christian image. It still bothers me that younger hip-hop fans really haven’t heard their albums. And many people don’t realize how their success in hip-hop (world tours, gold/platinum albums, endorsement contracts, movies, etc.) has carried forward exponentially to many other artists to this day. Long live the Kings from Queens and R.I.P. Jam Master Jay.


And let’s not forget, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic received 4.5 mics in this issue? Do you think it should have been rated 5 mics? 4 mics?












If you're looking for something else, then head on over to THIMK.


And don’t forget, the pw = thimk.


~Vincent Lopez~

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Remember Nine (Double M)?

Been a minute since we heard from Mr. Keyes. Props to Fred Espinosa for the video. --Philaflava

Nine from Fred Espinosa on Vimeo.

LMNO - This EP Reminds Me Of '93

You all know LMNO from Visionaries. Well this is one of his solo works. A dope EP, released on Up Above Records, an EP which not only reminds the artist of '93, it does to the listeners as well. Agree?


LMNO
- This EP Reminds Me Of '93 (2004)


01. Ears Hear
02. One Small Fry
03. All That Mess Feat. Urbanites
04. Looking For A Way Out
05. Impressionism
06. Dust Off Your Saddles Feat. Circle Of Power

Preview:


DOWNLOAD

-- Markshot

Gravediggaz “Rare & Remixed Volume 2” (Non-Album Tracks)

"Rare & Remixed Volume 2" is mostly compiled of tracks from the "The Pick The Sickle & The Shovel" era (1997-ish & post Prince Paul). To me, the highlights on this volume are the "Michael Jackson Skit" which is a supposed leftover from "6 Feet Deep" and the full "Westwood Freestyle" with The Roots and Hurricane that clocks in at just over 24 minutes!


DOWNLOAD VOLUME 2

enjoy,
--dirt_dog

MC Ren vs. Tame One

The finals are here and it's an ass whooping so far. --Philaflava

Click here to vote!





Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Sway & Tech - Wake up Show Unreleased Project (CD)



Sway & King Tech's Wake Up Show Unreleased Project is a compilation of rare tracks by Noggin' Nodder, Chino XL, Steve Def, & The Bums and it has King Tech remixes of D'Angelo, Rakim, & The Pharcyde. The last track on the album is possibly the greatest radio promo of all-time, the 1994 Wake Up Show Anthem with Nas, Organized Konfusion, Ras Kass, Saafir, Shyheim, Dred Scott, & Lauryn Hill. Noggin' Nodder is now known as Motion Man.. the track Bounce is a real banger! That Ice Cube sample is crazy and so is the beat produced by Kut Masta Kurt! The rest is fully produced King Tech. I always thought this was a vinyl only release so I was really surprised when I found this cd! A great pickup!

Download

-- Thomas V

Constant Deviants/Global Platoon/Sparrow: 90's Vaults Excavated


You already know how much unreleased 90's material has been put out on vinyl in the last couple of years. Some great stuff, some just okay. Some worth the big price tags, some not really. Well, this isn't gonna be on that $80 record steez. It will be affordable, but more importantly, dope 90's hip hop music.

Six 2 Six Shift Records' planned releases:

Constant Deviants - Feel That b/w Problem Child(also remix and instrumentals) 12"
Sparrow - Flows Of Death b/w Armageddon 12" (see cover art above, dope)
2 previously unreleased Constant Deviants LPs
1 previously unreleased Global Platoon LP
2 Previously unreleased Sparrow LPs

All from between 1994 and 1999. They really can't go wrong here.

If you aren't familiar with these artists, we have plenty of mp3s to get you acquainted here.
Constant Deviants is M.I. on the rhymes and DJ Cutt on the beats.
Global Platoon is M.I., Rome, Bosch, Fla Fla(of Sparrow), Illogic, and Supreme on the rhymes and boards.
Sparrow is Fla Fla rhyming and Dre(not the doc) on the beats.
Launchpad Records was founded by DJ Rockit.

Here's some previews to help get you up to date:

Constant Deviants - Problem Child (unreleased, will be on 12")

Constant Deviants - Competition Catch Speed Knots (released in 1996 on 12")

Sparrow - Flows Of Death (unreleased, will be on 12")

Sparrow - Physics (released in 1995 on 12")

Global Platoon - Maitreya (unreleased, will be on LP)

Global Platoon - War (unreleased, may be on LP)

Global Platoon - Keep Your Day Job (released in 1997 on 12")

Bosch - Little Man (unreleased demo, may be on LP)

Bosch - Rizing Suns (released in 1997 on 12")

Rome - Dai In Life (released in 1997 on EP)


Here's 2 videos they recently dug out the vaults:



And one last summer time banger that will be the B-Side of the Problem Child 12":

"Feel That" and "Problem Child" were first played as demos on the Stretch and Bobbito show. If you're feeling any of this and want to see a proper release, either follow their blog here and leave some comments, or join their facebook vinyl petition group. Make sure you let them know that you want to see these and all the other treats they're holding onto, on vinyl or CD. These guys deserve some support in getting this stuff released. There's plenty more heaters, I just tried to pick 10 of my favs here and it wasn't easy.
There is dope new material in the works that we will try to keep you abreast with.

--Verge

Monday, February 22, 2010

Gravediggaz “Rare & Remixed Volume 1” (Non-Album Tracks)

In case you didn't know, the Gravediggaz were a supergroup formed in 1994 by Prince Paul (The Undertaker), Frukwan (The Gatekeeper), Too Poetic (The Grym Reaper) [R.I.P.] and RZA (The Rzarector). This compilation will be a three-part series. Volumes 1 & 2 were originally assembled back in 1999 for a few friends and other traders (traitors?). They managed to find their way on to eBay and were trimmed down to create other bootlegs that were possibly pressed up or at least widely circulated. The years on those boots are absolutely bogus as some of the material wasn't even available at that time. Volume 3 is made up of unreleased tracks and remixes/mash-ups that I found between 2000 and 2010. It will also include a couple other treats, so stay tuned.


DOWNLOAD THE REVISED VOLUME 1
(
I went back and removed all questionable characters from the files names: ampersands (&) commas (,) question marks (?) apostrophes ('). Hopefully this will resolve ANY more problems.)

enjoy,
--dirt_dog

What's Fuckin' With This? (Rakim - Know The Ledge)

This morning Philaflava O.G. Clark Bent asked name A Tribe Called Quest track better than this? My response was there aren't many tracks better than this PERIOD. There are songs that have sheer lyrical brilliance, some have adventurous storytelling and some have an infectious beat behind it (think Mass Appeal), but there aren't many tracks that are as complete and as significant as "Know The Ledge."

So I ask this question to all of our T.R.O.Y. readers, what track is better than this? Me personally, it comes down to this and My Minds Playing Tricks On Me as my favorite hip-hop song of all-time.

You make the call. --Philaflava

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Mos Def & MF DOOMsday Disaster

I wasn't able to make it to the Mos Def & MF Doom show last weekend, so I had my boy Marvin write a review. This is just a heads up warning to anybody else that is planning on attending one of their shows.

--dirt_dog



"I have had bad experiences with concerts at the Congress Theater before. I once paid 30 bucks to see the Wu-Tang Clan – back when I was in high school & when $30 represented a lot more than it does to me today. When I counted only 7 actual members (there had to be like 30 folks on stage), and I noticed that Method Man was rapping Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s parts, I was, um, disappointed to say the least. So when I saw that Mos Def and MF Doom were coming to the Congress, I was apprehensive. After the concert got rescheduled, I was even more apprehensive. But a bunch of my friends were going, and I didn’t want to be the odd man out. So I paid $30 once again, hoping that the Congress would redeem itself.

I would have been more entertained if I stayed home and watched the NBA’s sorry dunk contest.

First of all, doors opened at 7pm. I know better than to show up right when the doors open because normally acts don’t hit the stage until 2 to 3 hrs afterwards. But, due to having to wait on a late friend, I didn’t arrive until after 11pm, fully expecting to walk in on the performance. Nope. I arrived to see an empty stage with a lone DJ playing old songs. My friends had been there for hours and had only seen 2 opening acts. An hour after I arrived, the crowd started to get a little antsy; I can’t say I blame them. People started booing and throwin’ things on stage. Finally, after the stage got saturated in empty drink cups and water bottles, Mos Def appears. This calmed folks down for a while, though occasionally a water bottle would fly up on stage. You can tell the crowd really wanted to get into Mos; we didn’t pay $30 to see a shady MF Doom. Sadly, Mos DEFinitely disappointed. He performed about 25 minutes worth of his new album (
Ecstatic) mixed with a few cuts from Black on Both Sides. Then “MF Doom” emerged to join the stage with him. At this point I am thinking to myself “great – now we can have a real hip-hop show,” thinking that they would take this time to perform together. Nope. Mos left the stage, and what was left were 2 hype men, one of whom we were supposed to believe was MF Doom. It was a lip-synching imposter.

Now, you would think the crowd would have gone crazy tearing the place apart at this point. But instead, just a general disappointment settled in. I think many people were, like me, a little sad also. We expected more from Mos; we paid $30 hoping to see a performance that would rival those of his former counterpart, Talib Kweli, who is known for giving riveting performances. What we got was a very unprofessional, un-motivated performance from an aging artist who may be more interested in acting than rapping right now (
Note to Mos Def: Do not give shout outs to Brooklyn while in other cities. Especially in Chicago. You’re lucky you didn’t get hit with a bottle to the face for that). We knew there was a chance that “DOOM” wouldn’t show as he's notorious for that. But we had hoped that Mos Def would make up for any disappointment DOOM might bring. Nope…"



Additional articles from The BoomBox and FakeShoreDrive.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Drayzee Says: It's 'Em Summer Days Volume 3

Recently we blessed you with G-Funk California.
If that was not much for you, than try to digest this load of dope summer tracks from all over The States, alloted in 3 volumes, made by member of philaflava forum and owner of his own blog, Drayzee, http://drayzee.blogspot.com/.
Drayzee was just kind enough to allow us to use his own work and to represent it via T.R.O.Y. Blog.
Thank you Drayzee for this massive work.


"Drayzee Says: It's 'Em Summer Days" is a compilation based on g-funk/gangsta/jazz/funk music. Too bad it's not summer yet, however this project will certainly give you that summer vibe. I hope this will bump in your speakers 6 summers from now. The first volume contains more "party-like" songs, the second volume will contain more gangsta/cruisin' stuff, jazz & funk, and the third one will be for you to just chill on. I also used some St. Ides commercial once per 8-9 songs, just to give you the feeling that there still is a dope radio on earth bumpin' this.



1. Eazy-E - Radio
2. Brownside Feat. Eazy-E - Drama On The Eastside
3. DJ Quik - Can't Fuck Wit A Nigga
4. O.F.T.B. - Crack 'Em
5. Loon-E-Toon And DJ Mike Tee - Inglewoodz Finast (Smooth Mix)
6. Westside Connection - Hoo-Bangin'
7. Ice Cube - Ghetto Bird
8. N.W.A. - Alwayz Into Somethin'
9. Watts Gangstas - Watts Riders
10. Funkdoobiest - Wopbabalubop (ft. B-Real)
11. Dr. Dre - Bitches Ain't Shit
12. Compton's Most Wanted - N 2 Deep (Ft Mr. Scarface)
13. Above the Law - V.S.O.P.
14. RBL Posse - Livin That Life
15. Juvenile Committee - Juvenile Thang
16. Young Gangstas - Driven By Revenge
17. Mac Mall - Sic Wit Tis
18. Above the Law - Never Missin' a Beat
19. 2Pac - The Streetz R Deathrow
20. Da Lench Mob - Guerillas Ain't Gangstas
21. RBL Posse - Don't Give Me No Bammer
22. Battlecat - Out Here
23. DJ Yella - Dat's How I'm Livin' (Feat.B.G. Knocc Out)
24. Eazy-E - Tha Muthaphukkin Real ft. MC Ren
25. MC Eiht - You Can't See Me f. Tha Chill
26. Tha Dogg Pound - It'z A Good Ass Day
27. Dr. Dre - Let Me Ride
28. Lil 1/2 Dead - Back In The Day
29. Cypress Hill - Throw Your Hands In The Air (Feat. Erick Sermon, MC Eiht, Redman)
30. King Tee - Dippin' (Remix)
31. Vontel - Loungin
32. G-Lo - Smooth
33. Crimies - Love For The City Of Hub
34. A - 1 Swift-Bring The Praiz
35. Foesum - Listen To The Sound
36. Above The Law - Kalifornia (feat Kokane)
37. DJ Quik & Kurupt - Do You Know
38. 2 - Def-We Party
39. Realite - Gangsta Gangsta
40. L.A.Z. - Bigga Than Nine
41. Dazzie Dee - Unda Da Table (feat. Dolemite)
42. Geto Boyz - Geto Fantasy
43. Above The Law - Livin' Like Hustlers (G-Mixx)
44. Compton's Most Wanted - Hood Took Me Under
45. Tha Dogg Pound - New York, New York
46. DJ Pooh - Who Cares (ft. Kam)
47. Above The Law - Black Superman
48. Eazy-E - Boyz N Tha Hood (G-Mix)
49. Maniac - Deep Enough
50. 2nd II None - I Can Tell
51. Legit - No Pannies
52. Oppazet - Oppazet
53. Juice - Eastside
54. T.I.P. - Get Down
55. Sean T - Get Gone
56. Roscoe - Smooth Sailin'
57. Swoop G - Simpin' Into Pimpin'
58. Mr. Criminal - Sounds Of Summertime (Remix)
59. Compton's Most Wanted - Music To Driveby
60. MC Eiht - All For Tha Money
61. Big Tone - The Skrilla
62. S.S.P. - Weekend
63. Magic Mike - Love 4 My Homies
64. Mr. X - Any Ole Sunday
65. Mad CJ Mac - Come Take A Ride
66. Ice Cube - It Was A Good Day
67. Playya-1000 with The D'kster - The Layback
68. Fo' Clips - Hold On
69. Watts Gangstas - Fuct In The Game
70. Mac Mall - Ghetto Theme
71. FLEXX - OG Ridaz ft Young Dre
72. Dream Warriors - The Era Of "Stay Real"
73. Big 50 - Deez Street
74. Changing Faces - Keep It Right There (DeVante Swing Remix Instrumental)
75. G-Ism-Strips
76. Mac Mall - Crestside
77. M.C. Eiht & L.A. Nash - Professional Stone Crooks
78. Silky Slim - Tha Playa's Realm
79. Lil Fly - Rag Top
80. Krucked M Age - Da Show I Want You Party Over
81. Young Ed - Find A Way
82. N.E.S. - We Can Roll
83. Psycho Gangster - Psycho Gangster - About My Money
84. Fat 4 Ever - Excercising My P Thang
85. B.O.M. - Times At There Hardest
86. Ray Luv - Last Nite
87. O.T.R. Clique - Streets Deeper Than The Grave
88. Cal - Luv-Life Of A Playa
89. Christopher Williams - Dance
90. Wicked Minds - California
91. Azim - 4-D Funk
92. Cellski - Last Song ft Young Ed
93. Maniac Lok - Summer Jam
94. Mr. Peebodie - Sahloo
95. One Gud Cide - Remember Me

DOWNLOAD

-- Markshot

Friday, February 19, 2010

The T.R.O.Y. Blog Presents: Houston, TX

Another day, another great mix from forum member Tha Town (That E. Oak LOC!). As evidenced by his great G-Funk Cali mix, Tha Town is a veritable encyclopedia of rare, obscure, and otherwise criminally unknown gangsta rap. Dude's collection is large, and he's been blessing us with some serious knowledge since he joined the Phila forum. Don't believe me? Check his threads on Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi. Highly recommended.

Anyway, if you've read these two posts, you already know that my own tastes are pretty bugged and I'm always on the lookout for some seriously Southern-fried, gangstafied, low-budget rap music. So, I approached Tha Town about doing a mix for the blog, and he came back with a collection of marvelous tracks focusing on Houston, Texas.

Here's what the Loc himself has to say:

"If you ask me, 90's Houston is best hip-hop anywhere, or anytime. This is some of the best of the best from that region. I had a really difficult time putting this together because I had about 100 tracks I wanted to put on here. A must have. Smooth, gangsta, and strong vocal hooks. Enjoy."

Indeed. Pop the trunk and turn the street volume up to 10.

1. Deep South Playas - "Trapped in the Ghetto"
2. Rashid - "H-Town Way"
3. Mass 187 - "Gangsta Strut"
4. 20-2-Life - "Feel Me"
5. Jakol - "Hit It From The Back"
6. 5th Ward Juvenilez - "Bad News"
7. 5th Ward Boyz - "Situationz"
8. DJ DMD - "Mr. 25/8"
9. Klondike Kat - "Ghetto Baby"
10. Guerilla Maab - "Still Here"
11. DJ DMD - "Keep the Real Ones By Your Side"
12. Ka*V*R - "Baby Love"
13. 20-2-Life - "After Servin' A Deuce"
14. Cappeela - "Mama"
15. Cappeela - "Playas"
16. Mass 187 - "Lord Knows"


-Echo Leader


ULTRA, Magnetic, Magnetic



ULTRA, Magnetic, Magnetic

Sometimes we never really know how good something is until it’s gone. Often times, especially in this hip-hop game, the greats go unnoticed, and when we’ve finally learned to appreciate their work, poof, they’re done. That’s just the way it is, the way it’s always been in this ever-evolving game. The Ultramagnetic MC’s are one such group. A lot of you probably know of them now, but they never really received the props they deserved until years later, when hip-hop starting going downhill. Well, now we’re bringing them back to you.



Straight out of the Boogie Down South Bronx, Ultramag was a four-man group (five if you include Tim Dog) at the forefront of the new school movement in rap. With their obscure lyrics and groundbreaking beats, these cats were some of the most creative artists to ever step foot in the game. They formed in 1984 with a few unsuccessful singles, until they broke out in 1986 with their quintessential jam, “Ego Trippin’.” The song, with its Melvin Bliss break beat, futuristic sound-scape and polysyllabic rhyme styles, was the first for many to experience the freshness of Ultra. They even had the nerve to get at Run D.M.C. on wax: “Say what, Peter Piper? / To hell with childish rhymes!” and “They use the simple back and forth, the same old rhythm, / that a baby can pick up and join right with them / But their rhymes and pathetic, they think they’re copacetic / Using nursery terms, at least not poetic.” Damn. Neither Run nor D.M.C. later responded to “Ego Trippin’.” That’s heart.



Two years later, Ultramag debuted with the classic LP Critical Beatdown, they’re most well known and acclaimed work to date. At the time of its release the album was pretty unsuccessful commercially, but now it’s just about their only album to receive the props it deserved, from fans and critics alike. Most songs involve Keith and Ced Gee trading verses, acting as foils to one another over a collection of funky samples and ass-shaking break beats. Everything about the album was ahead of its time, from its vocals to production. Even today, the album still stands as one of the greatest in hip-hop.



Kool Keith was the most popular and well-known of the bunch, and his high-pitched voice and bizarre lyrical imagery are still the group’s most recognizable trademarks. When you think of influential lyricists, cats like Rakim and G. Rap come to mind, but to me Keith was just as important in his own, weird way. His wacky and abstract lyrics coupled with his off-beat delivery changed the way people rhymed—he could literally spit about anything and make it work on wax. Over the years his lyrics became even crazier and more obscure, leading many fans to believe he was genuinely insane. The video for “Poppa Large (Remix)” even has him rapping in a straight jacket with a birdcage over his head. All of this led to a popular myth that Keith once spent time in a mental institution at Bellevue hospital; whether or not this is true, I can’t confirm. But crazy or not, he’s always been up there with the best of the best. If you want to know where alternative and underground rap found their roots, look no further than Kool Keith.



As good as he was, though, Keith had a shit load of help. His running mate, Ced Gee, goes down in the rap history books as one of the most underrated and overlooked artists to ever step foot in the game—both as a producer and an MC. While Keith was garnering most of the attention, Ced was the glue guy in the back making it all work. And man did he put in some serious work. A lot of people seem to forget that Ced produced most of the tracks on the classic BDP album Criminal Minded, even though he went unaccredited. KRS-One even stated that he almost became a member of Ultramagnetic back in the day. Most songs from Tim Dog’s classic LP Penicillin on Wax also owed their production to Ced Gee, including the infamous “Fuck Compton.” On Critical Beatdown, Ced traded techniques with the late great Paul C. (R.I.P.), and produced one of the freshest collection of beats ever assembled. His sampling methods with the SP-12 spearheaded the Golden Age style of beatmaking.



Ultramag’s debut album was so good that it overshadowed the rest of their later work, but it really shouldn’t have. Their next two albums were classics in their own right. Funk Your Head Up, the group’s sophomore release, may have been the most overlooked album of the 19-naughties. It was here when Ced Gee’s beats became progressively darker and more complex, while Keith’s lyrical style began to take full form. But at a time when West Coast gangsta rap was pulling away listeners to the opposite coast, the album was commercially unsuccessful, and many fans and critics couldn’t get their heads around the change in sound.



They reached their most creative and expressive peak with their last worthy album, The Four Horsemen. Ced Gee’s beats, with help from The Godfather Don, were at their darkest and most haunting stage. The production on this album was one of the finest ever, a vivid collage of beautiful jazz samples, soulful boom-bap drums and deep bass. And of course, the production was paired with some of the most bizarre and diverse lyrical content 90’s rap has ever seen. Keith and Ced rhyme about everything from their signature sci-fi themes, to comic book heroes and villains on “See the Man on the Street.” One song in particular, “Saga of Dandy, The Devil & Day,” pays an honourable tribute to baseball’s Negro Leagues. Even the bizarre sexuality Keith displays in his later solo work is evidently rooted here, on a few of the cuts.



Something has to be said about the chemistry shared between the Ultramagnetic MCs in their heyday. Ced Gee was more than just a producer, and he consistently held his own on the mic alongside Kool Keith. When you think of the greatest MC duos, it’s hard to picture Tip without Phife, Run without DMC, Rae without Ghost. It’s equally as difficult to picture Keith without Ced, and vice versa. Even TR Love, the group’s second producer and third MC, blended well with the other two. If you heard him rap, his voice was like a middle ground between Ced’s deep bellow and Keith’s nasal pitch. Although TR contributed significantly fewer vocals, the songs on which he did (think “A Chorus Line”) were instant bangers. And of course, enough can’t be said about DJ Moe Love’s operation of the turntables, which was just as much a part of the Ultra sound as the beats or lyrics.

As good as the Ultramagnetic MCs were, however, and as important as they were to the development of new-aged hip-hop, they weren’t perfect. Some of their later releases seemed to lack the creativity they had built upon in previous years, and a lot of their sexually explicit songs—though some hilarious—weren’t as rewarding or fun to listen to. It gets tiresome hearing songs like “Smack My Bitch Up” after a while. Ultimately following The Four Horsemen, the group officially disbanded. In 2007, after more than a decade-long hiatus, they attempted a comeback with The Best Kept Secret. As far as I know, it’s the last Ultramagnetic group effort we will ever hear, and the signature sound that made them great before might already be gone. Here’s hoping it isn’t.



Kool Keith went on to have a prominent and successful solo career, often taking on the pseudonyms of Dr. Octagon and Dr. Dooom. He became even more experimental, weird, and imaginative on his solo cuts, and the loyal fan base he has developed shows that cats are still willing to hear something fresh. Ced Gee has also stayed grinding, and most recently he worked as a producer for Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency. Not too shabby himself.

All in all, the Ultramagnetic MCs will be missed, and, sadly overlooked by much of the hip-hop community. What still appeals to me most about them is how smart they were; here was a group of artists capable of imagining anything in the studio. Through their first three albums, their lyrics covered or referenced such diverse themes as science, chemistry, martial arts and Bruce Lee, literature, comic book heroes, the baseball Negro Leagues, street fighting, mental insanity, and outer space. All while keeping it real, hardcore, and danceable. They were Outkast before Outkast, Wu-Tang before Wu-Tang, the Fu-Schnicks before the Fu-Schnicks, and everything we enjoyed in Golden Age to the 90’s before either really kicked off.



And now they’re finished, like much of the hip-hop we’ve come to love over the years. At least now we can sit back, enjoy the old tracks and reminisce.



Critical Beatdown: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BA6AB3HI

Funk Your Head Up: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MGDQN6FX

The Four Horsemen: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WGDYHWD3

The Basement Tapes: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8OUR6E7U

The Basement Tapes are a collection of unreleased songs over their initial half-decade span. A good complimentary piece to any fan’s inventory, it’s nice to hear some of the old cuts on here that should have made the LPs back in the day. Others, however, suffer from a lack of sound quality, often because the records were damaged in studio. Ced Gee even points out that the engineer to “Ya Not that Large” got high and erased half of the track—a real pity once you listen to what’s left of the song. It would have been a sure fan favourite.



The B-Sides: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CH74C1HT

The B-Sides are a compilation of remixes and alternate takes to several of the group’s biggest hits. They are a good listen, but many of the tracks don’t feature that much of a noticeable difference. My favourite has to be “Ego Trippin’ 2000,” an updated layer of instrumental to essentially the same lyrics and beat as the original.



It’s been a pleasure making my debut with T.R.O.Y. Blog. Stay tuned for more.

Peace,

— Teddy C.D.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Drayzee Says: It's 'Em Summer Days Volume 2

Recently we blessed you with G-Funk California.
If that was not much for you, than try to digest this load of dope summer tracks from all over The States, alloted in 3 volumes, made by member of philaflava forum and owner of his own blog, Drayzee, http://drayzee.blogspot.com/.
Drayzee was just kind enough to allow us to use his own work and to represent it via T.R.O.Y. Blog.
Thank you Drayzee for this massive work.


"Drayzee Says: It's 'Em Summer Days" is a compilation based on g-funk/gangsta/jazz/funk music. Too bad it's not summer yet, however this project will certainly give you that summer vibe. I hope this will bump in your speakers 6 summers from now. The first volume contains more "party-like" songs, the second volume will contain more gangsta/cruisin' stuff,jazz & funk, and the third one will be for you to just chill on. I also used some St. Ides commercial once per 8-9 songs, just to give you the feeling that there still is a dope radio on earth bumpin' this.


1. The Dove Shack - Summertime In The LBC
2. Mr. Criminal - Sounds Of Summertime
3. 2nd II None - Up N Da Club
4. DGSB - In The Summer Breeze
5. L.O.L. - Summer Breeze
6. Big Mello - Fancy Thangz
7. 2nd II None - If You Want It
8. Black Ty aka Tyrese & Kurupt - Westside
9. 2nd II None - Nuthin' Has Changed
10. Foesum - Likka Store
11. Madd Hatta - Trunk-O-Funk
12. Goldy - In the Land of Funk
13. Cold World Hustlers - Everyday Thang feat. One Tyme
14. Conscious Daughters - We Roll Deep
15. Ganksta C - 3 Wheel Motion
16. Double A - Gangstrumental
17. Nate Dogg - Nobody Does It Better (feat. Warren G)
18. 2Pac feat. Dre & Roger - California Love [Wadz Remix]
19. 213 - Another Summer
20. Warren G - Get U Down (Remix) ft. Ice Cube, B-Real, Snoop Dogg
21. Dream Warriors - California Dreamin'
22. Da Brat - Let's All Get High (Feat. Krayzie Bone)
23. Twinz - Journey Wit Me
24. Second Nature - Take me back
25. Top Prize - Ballin Big Affair
26. Stalin - G-Funk
27. Playa B & The Midwest Click - Indiana Love
28. O.F.T.B. - Ladies Night
29. Zapp - More Bounce To The Ounce
30. Zapp - Beautiful Lady
31. Lakeside - Something About That Woman
32. The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On
33. Oliver Cheatham - Get Down On Saturday Night (Special Extended Version)
34. Kool & The Gang - Summer Madness
35. Incredible Bongo Band - Pipeline
36. Quincy Jones - Summer In The City
37. The Isley Brothers - Footsteps In The Dark
38. Isaac Hayes - Walk On By
39. Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine
40. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Waiting in Vain
41. The Floaters - Float On
42. Zapp - Be Alright
43. Joe Sample - In All My Wildest Dreams
44. Erick Sermon - Music (feat Marvin Gaye)
45. Bobby Hutcherson - Ummh
46. Mojoe - Gumbo Groove
47. Lucas - Sitting In A Breeze With Jazz
48. Kingdom - Ghetto Star
49. 2 Of The Crew - Emotions
50. Alien Planet - In The Heat Of The Night
51. Nate Dogg - Bag O' Weed
52. Trundeed - You Know
53. 213 - Game Don't Wait [Wadz Remix]
54. Ahmad - Back in the Day (remix)
55. Gyrl - Gyrl - Play Another Slow Jam (Single Version)
56. Ice-T - How Does It Feel
57. CC Waterbound - CC Waterbound
58. Ase Man - Space Age
59. Blue House Boyz - This Is How We Chill
60. 5th Ward Juvenilez - G-Groove
61. Rodg - Always
62. A Lighter Shade Of Brown - Dip Into My Ride
63. Twinz - Good Times
64. DGSB - Let Me Groove You
65. Suga Free - The Rebirth ft. Mausberg & Kam
66. 2nd II None - Let's Get Higher
67. Mr.X - So High
68. Vontel (Ft. Roger Troutman) - 4 My Homiez
69. Rhythm And Green - Carry On
70. Duke - Young Rida
71. Lo-Key - Don't Trip On Me
72. Royal C - Rollin On The East Side
73. Lite Foot - Summer Nights
74. Battlecat - Waterdrop
75. Jay Dee - Think Twice
76. N.E.S. - 4YoRide
77. Scrooge - I Made It
78. Ii Triflin - Get Money
79. Big 50 - Funk Flow
80. A Lighter Shade Of Brown - Playin' In The Shade
81. Playya 1000 - Sunday Afternoon (4-Ever)
82. South 1 East - Dago Luv
83. Se7en - Rise
84. Mac & Ak - Can I Strike Through
85. Mista Grimm - Dippin'
86. Caprice - What Do You Want
87. Foesum - Who Got Your Back
88. Paperboy - Propaganda
89. Jewel T - Driftin
90. San Quinn - Having A Ball
91. Precise - What Tha Funk
92. Wessyde Goon Squad - Higher (Remix)
93. Darkside - Let Me Introduce Myself
94. Tha Reela - Whats The Lick
95. DJ Quik - Summer Breeze
96. 2Pac - Can You Get Away
97. 2Pac - Me Against The World

DOWNLOAD

-- Markshot