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.
"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!
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 otherbootlegs 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.)
I can't believe it but this marks the 12th edition of Sounds Like The 90s. Instead of bringing you new music this month we're bringing you a recap of sorts. Below is a double disc compiled of the best of Sounds Like The 90s throughout this year. And to close things out it was only right we brought back Blake and Tal for the artwork.
Many of you will remember the De La Buhloone Mindstate ad featured in various Hip-hop mags in '93. The image below is actually the real ad taken from URB when it was still a Cali-only free newspaper. The image was scanned straight from the paper and left in its current condition. Its not Sounds Like The 90s, this shit IS from the 90s.
So here is to another month of music and a nice way to close out 2009. A special thanks goes out to all the artists who have contributed, graphic designers and of course you for supporting. We'll be continuing the SLT9s series in 2010 but for now enjoy this double fix. --Philaflava
Sounds Like The 90s (Best Of) Vol. 12
1. Prince Paul Intro
2. Cormega - Fresh feat. DJ Red Alert, PMD, Grand Puba, KRS-One & Big Daddy Kane
3. Kurious - Benneton feat. MC Serch & DOOM
4. DOOM - Gazzillion Ear
5. Raekwon - Criminology 2 feat. Ghostface Killah
6. Marco Polo & Torae - Hold Up feat. Masta Ace & Sean Price
7. Statik Selektah - Critically Acclaimed feat. Lil Fame, Saigon & Sean Price
8. Brother Ali - Best At It feat. Freeway & Joell Ortiz
9. Shawn Jackson - Feelin' Jack
10. Open Mike Eagle - iRock
11. Musab - Get Life
12. Murs - The Science
13. Jay Electronica - Exhibit A
14. Praverb - The King
15. Superstar Quamallah - You Need Knowledge
16. Focus - Homage To Premier feat. Royce Da 5'9, Phonte & Stat Quo
17. Focus - Homage To Pete Rock feat. Rapper Pooh, Shha Stimuli & Kurupt
Some people use candles on cakes to determine their age. Other do the math = this year minus year born. I use Stetsasonic's "In Full Gear". I was only 12 years old when my mind was flipped inside out after being exposed to this majestic album.
This was the record that brought me into the hiphop mindstate that I would never leave again. This is how they should all be: full of clever rhymes, impressive sound, deep layered production and riding on an impressive varying show of musical/hiphop styles in one album.
"Freedom or Death" continues to be my personal motto. Daddy-O says "If I gotta die to be free, well then I guess it gotta be, 'cause I aint never been a sucka see", leaving you no gray area at all in the philosophical arena where second-guessers lose their heads to fully convinced gladiators. These political stands are what made the golden era of hiphop an educational tool that has never been equaled by later generations.
Strong arm beats and lyrics are all over the album, thanks to Delite and Daddy O's unwavering lyrics. "We're The Band" (sampling the same music that BDP would later use for "Blackman In Effect") defines what they are over the sound of a hardcore marching beat. Prince Paul on the production and turntables. Frukwan dropping science on the mic. Wise spitting on the mics, sometimes with beatboxing, at other times with rhymes. Some of the wisest lyrics though, come from MC Delite, who already sounded like an elder on the tracks. DBC was the keyboardist/drummer/DJ. Bobby Simmons has something to do there.. but I don't think he was around for In Full Gear. Anyone wanna school me on him? I just know he has a shitty ass myspace.
To complete the band, we have the ringleader, no doubt; Daddy-O. His gruff voice mixed with his raging lyrics make up the poisonous darts he throws out in every verse on every track of this album. Even when he says "I tape the daytime soaps on the VCR", you come out convinced that daytime soaps are straight gangster. If not, you'll give him his respect after you remember what he spit a few lines before:
"And though I'm not a politician I know all my rights I had a fight with a cop just last night Address my girl 'my dear', been shootin guns for years And I never been a sucker givin in to my peers"
"Stet Troop 88" has Wise on the beatbox mixed with some perfect uppercut-punch-strong programmed beats. "Float On" is just a soft love song, coming equipped with all the rappers horoscope signs and some silly ass whispering. "Pen and Paper" is just a dope hiphop track, an ode to writing your lyrics over a kick ass bassed-beat, and a climaxing simple-but-so-well-placed wicky-wicky scratch. "This is it Y'all" rolls into your ears like that all hiphop tracks should. A perfect beat. A perfect horny stab. A perfect drum roll. Three MC's rolling over the beat like airplane wheels over tarmacs. To lighten the atmosphere, interludes come in and add comedy, "Extensions" would be a perfect track for Chris Rock's latest documentary "Good Hair". "Sally", a song about an ugly but loveable girl. The album just goes all over the place from utilizing heavy metal riffs, ("It's In My Song"), to some deep dubb Miami Bass (with the obvious title "Miami Bass", but actually talking more about), some of you may not need to be reminded how big that bass sound was in the late 80's. Daddy-O had to bring at least one trade mark dancehall track, this one called "ODad".
Music for the Stetfully Insane
The one track that probably get's skipped by a lot of people, just happens to be my all time favorite Prince Paul production (and my funny ass ringtone that gets ALOT of attention when I'm at the bank). "Music for the Stetfully Insane" is an interlude consisting of a fat, real sounding drum loop scratched over a Funkadelic's "Atmosphere", a lengthy Bernie Worrellathon keyboard solo track. Side note: Interesting how 15 years later Paul would work with Bernie Worrel in their monumental album "Baby Elephant".
This album was all about that open-minded theme that so many late 80's records boasted with pride.
You see, you misunderstood A sample is a tactic A portion of my method, a tool In fact it's only of importance when I make it a priority
Sadly only one year later De La Soul would be taken to court and lose a legal battle over the use of a sample. Biz Markie would lose his battle too. Too many songs have been shelved due to lack of sample clearance. In this respect, the old school will always have that one edge over anything newer. They had way more creativity with samples before the law abiding record industry fucked up the sample-game.
It's borderline insane that this track, that was so historic and iconic in it's prime, usually gets more play on European dancefloors than anywhere else. Let's make up for lost time then, and bump it now, and bump it loud: "TALKING ALL THAT JAZZ"
Of all the remix packs, this is one of my favorites... The Soul Assassins edition. I'll confess that the second track was not taken from a cd single. But it was a Lighter Shade Of Brown CD5 that led me to their album that had this remix as a bonus track. I felt it was 100% necessary to include some other DJ Muggs work from 1992. And I couldn't help but sneak in the U2 track as an obscure off-beat treat. Nothing mind-blowing, but a chance to hear something out of the hip-hop world. If you missed Remix Packs 1, 2 or 3 click HERE.
This isn't the first time I touched this topic on T.R.O.Y. because for some unexplainable reason I'm attached to this album. '93 was a year of classics, but it also contains many great obscure releases that fell by the wayside too. Let me start off by saying I was never a huge 3rd Bass fan. They had a few tracks I've enjoyed but for the most part they (mainly Serch) always came off a bit corny to me. Pete, not so much, he always had that cool swagger that made him a little less contrived than his counterpart. When the group broke up I don't think anyone shed a tear. They had a good run but their time was over. Hip-hop was moving in a different direction and did not contain 2 white boys rapping about the same humdrum shit for another 6 years.
No one can deny the hits they had, whether it was "The Gas Face," "Pop Goes The Weasel," "Steppin' To The A.M" or the Marley laced "Product Of The Environment." Two white dudes lucky to have careers in a black dominated sport enjoying every minute of it. They were not poet laureates. One rapper was the self-loathing lighthearted guy, while the other played the too cool for school steelo. Together it worked and with the help of Prince Paul, The Bomb Squad and some respectable co-signs from people ranging from EPMD, Henry Rollins to Russell Simons 3rd Bass become a legit rap act.
So where does that leave us? '92 the group officially split, Serch was dabbling in the production game with female rapper Boss, The Zebrahead soundtrack, and let us not forget finagling his way into one of the most important rap signings of all-time (Nas). He dropped a lackluster solo titled Return of the Product, which included the hit "Back To The Grill" with Nasty Nas, Chubb Rock & Red Hot Lover Tone. But other then that track, which gained notoriety for its use by Kid Capri Def Comedy Jam, the album fell flat.
A year after the breakup Pete Nice got the call from Russell Simmons and before you knew it "Dust To Dust" was in stores. With the help of friends K.M.D (MF Doom), Sam Sever and The Beatnuts, the production on Dust To Dust was really gratifying. Samples ranging from Velvet Underground. Iron Butterfly, X-Clan, Otis Redding, Ramsey Lewis to Frank Sinatra combine to bring forth an eccentric background for Pete Nice's verbals. I still can't tell you what DJ Richie Rich actually did. Street cred employee?
Tracks like Rat Bastard, Kick The Bobo, Verbal Message, The Lumberjack, The Rapsody, 3 Blind Mice featuring Kurious or Rich Bring 'Em Back" featuring the debut of Cage help balance out the album. Check it out! --Philaflava
Where is Pete Nice today? Well after quiting the rap game Pete started his own Baseball memorabilia store in Cooperstown. In 2003, he published his first book, Baseball Legends of Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery, under his real name. He has also been working to secure some property for an official grave site of Negro League players.
In early 2008, Pete opened McGreevy's 3rd Base Bar, a sports bar in Boston with Dropkick Murphys' band member Ken Casey. The bar recently was named Best Sports Bar In Boston by Citysearch.
Your De La Soul collection should consist of their first four instrumental LPs, numerous soundboard recordings from concerts in between the years of '88 and '98, a gang of shelved demos from the "De La Soul Is Dead" and "Buhloone Mindstate" sessions, etc. Instead, you're left fiending for these things, and chances are that you'll never see anything released.
Here are all of their known instrumentals from between the years of '88 and '98. If I missed anything, hit us up in the comments section.
De La Soul - The Instrumentals Volume 1 1. Me Myself And I 2. Me Myself And I (Oblapos Mode) 3. Potholes In My Lawn 4. Buddy (Native Tongue Decision) 5. Ghetto Thang (Ghetto Ximer) 6. Say No Go (New Keys) 7. Say No Go (Bonus Beats) 8. Keepin' The Faith 9. Keepin' The Faith (Straight Pass) 10. Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa (Full Mix) 11. Ring Ring Ring (Sax Mix) 12. Saturdays (Mo Mo Dub) http://www.mediafire.com/?hq3g1l3nnyy
De La Soul - The Instrumentals Volume 2 1. The Dawn Brings Smoke 2. Breakadawn (De La Remix) 3. Breakadawn 4. Ego Trippin' 5. Ego Trippin' (Egoristic Mix) 6. Lovely How I Let My Mind Float 7. En Focus 8. Fallin' 9. Stakes Is High 10. Stakes Is High (Remix) 11. The Bizness 12. The Bizness (Remix) 13. Itzsoweezee 14. Trouble In The Water 15. More Than You Know http://www.mediafire.com/?wmgvgzg4yfn
The Buhloone Mindstate sessions yielded quite a few classic non-album tracks. My personal favorites would include the soundtrack cut "Fallin", the De La Soul remix for "Breakadawn", the Clear Lake Auditorium track "She Fe MCs", and the b-side "Lovely How I Let My Mind Float". To be honest, I was never a huge fan of the "Buhloone Mindstate" LP, but 1993-1994 might be my favorite De La era, all things considered.
De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate Era Rarities Volume 1 1. Breakadawn (De La Soul Remix) 2. Breakadawn (Foncett Power Radio Mix) 3. Breakadawn (London Remix) 4. Ego Trippin' (LA Jay Mix) 5. Ego Trippin' (Egoristic Mix) 6. Ego Trippin' (Gumbo Funk Remix) 7. Stickabush 8. Hsubakcits 9. She Fe MCs w/ ATCQ 10. Stix & Stonz w/ Grandmaster Caz & Prince Whipper Whip 11. Lovely How I Let My Mind Float w/ Biz Markie 12. Lovely How I Let My Mind Float w/ Biz Markie (Slight Remix) 13. Fallin' 14. Fallin' (Remix) http://www.mediafire.com/?didwzzi1mjn
This is, without question, the weakest era for De La Soul remixes & b-sides. Of course, a full 100MB volume of "Saturdays" and "Keepin' The Faith" might look legendary in comparison to whatever they're doing nowadays, but hey, even James Brown fell the fuck off at some point.
Volume 2 is a mandatory download, though. Check the audio samples for "De La Slow" "De La's Poster", "Roadrunner", and "Scenario". I get the feeling that they have a ton of 1991-1992 era material in the vaults; these guys were some serious workaholics, as indicated by the sheer amount of non-album tracks that were churned out during the "3 Feet High & Rising" sessions.
De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead Era Rarities Volume 1 1. Saturdays (Disco Fever Mix) 2. Saturdays (Radio Home Mix) 3. Saturdays (Ladies Nite Decision) 4. Saturdays (6 AM Mix) 5. Saturdays (Who's Skatin' Promo) 6. Saturdays (Dave's Home Mix) 7. Saturdays (What Yo Life Can Truly Be) 8. Keepin' The Faith (Just A Touch Mix) 9. Keepin' The Faith (Fly And Funky Mix) 10. Keepin' The Faith (12" UK Mix) 11. Keepin' The Faith (7" UK Mix) 12. Keepin' The Faith (No Bass Mix) 13. Keepin' The Faith (Straight Pass) http://www.mediafire.com/?ut4hzjmjeim
De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead Era Rarities Volume 2 1. Piles And Piles Of Demo Tapes Bi-Da Miles (Conley's Decision) 2. Ring Ring Ring (Party Line Mix) 3. Ring Ring Ring (Executive U.S. Decision Mix) 4. Ring Ring Ring (7" UK Mix) 5. Ring Ring Ring (CJ's Alternative Mix) 6. Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa (Remix) 7. De La Slow (Demo) 8. De La's Poster (Demo) 9. Let The Horns Blow w/ Chi Ali, Dres, Phife & Fashion 10. Roadrunner (Demo) 11. Scenario w/ ATCQ, LONS & Black Sheep (Demo #1) http://www.mediafire.com/?nglexyvd5yz
De La Slow (Demo)
De La's Poster (Demo)
Let The Horns Blow w/ Chi Ali, Dres, Phife & Fashion
Roadrunner (Demo)
Scenario w/ ATCQ, LONS & Black Sheep (Demo #1)
Props to Vincent Lopez for blessing us with the "Scenario" demo, and major thanks to dirt dog for hooking up the ill cover!
There have been countless De La Soul non-album track compilations put together over the years, so we're not exactly breaking new ground, but if you're like me, then you enjoy having everything organized in one place. Over the course of the next week or two, I'm going to list four separate installments of De La Soul rarities:
3 Feet High & Rising Era (1988-1990) De La Soul Is Dead Era (1991-1992) Buhloone Mindstate Era (1993-1994) Stakes Is High Era (1996-1998)
First up, we got a two volume set of 3 Feet High & Rising era non-album tracks. I attempted to create an alternate version of the officially released album on volume 1, with volume 2 containing all of the leftovers. There are quite a few ill-advised European remixes in circulation, but you won't find any of 'em here. Enjoy.
De La Soul - 3 Feet High & Rising Era Rarities Volume 1 1. Ain't Hip To Be Labeled A Hippie 2. The Magic Number (Too Mad Mix) 3. Freedom Of Speak 4. Strictly Dan Stuckie 5. Jenifa (12" Version) 6. Ghetto Thing (Ghetto Ximer) 7. Eye Know (The Know It All Mix) 8. Skip 2 My Loop 9. Tread Water (Stonebridge's Pumpin' Mix) 10. Potholes In My Lawn (12" Version) 11. Say No Go (Say No Dope Mix) 12. Brain Washed Follower 13. Plug Tunin' (Something's Wrong Here) 14. Buddy (Native Tongue Decision) 15. The Mack Daddy On The Left 16. Me Myself And I (Oblapos Mode) 17. Double Huey Skit 18. D.A.I.S.Y. Age (Edit Mix) http://www.mediafire.com/?2tiimzjnqmt
De La Soul - 3 Feet High & Rising Era Rarities Volume 2 1. What's More 2. Me Myself And I & Say No Go (Unity Mix) 3. The Magic Number (1-2-3 Mix) 4. Freedom Of Speak (We Got More Than Three) 5. Jenifa (Alternate Mix) 6. Eye Know (The Kiss Mix) 7. Tread Water (Stonebridge's Local Mix) 8. Say No Go (New Keys Mix) 9. Me Myself And I (Remix) 10. Eye Know (Daisy Bass Mix) 11. Say No Go (House Of Love Mix) 12. Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children w/ Queen Latifah 13. Doin' Our Own Dang w/ JBs & ATCQ 14. Doin' Our Own Dang w/ JBs & ATCQ (Fermie Remix) 15. Doin' Our Own Dang w/ JBs & ATCQ (JBs Remix) http://www.mediafire.com/?kyii3mm3mw0
A little while ago we told you about Wordbooty, a T.R.O.Y. Forum denizen on an unstoppable mission to compile the entirety of Prince Paul's discography in mp3 format. With the help of the Duchess of Downloads, Ho1ogramz, he was successful in compiling two volumes of remixes credited to Prince Paul. Not too shabby. With an assist from Holo1Ogramz once again, he has amassed for you the discography of Prince Paul's largely obscure Resident Alien project. Unfamiliar with Resident Alien? Check it:
In the early 1990s, at the ripe old age of 20, Prince Paulwas the man in demand after having produced hits for3rd Bass, Big Daddy Kane, and of course, De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising. Although rumor has it that Paul was quite happy to stick to producing, Lyor Cohenconvinced him to take on his own imprint at Def Jam/RAL - and hence the Dew Doo Man was born. Things were rocky from the start, with Russell Simmons' less than enthusiastic reception to this new label's name, but Paul took his advance and his A&R freedom and began to work on Dew Doo Man's first release.
The first release that Paul came up with was a concept album - It Takes a Nation of Suckas To Let Us In - based around the characters of three immigrants from the Caribbean who had recently relocated to Long Island. This idea didn't exactly scream "millions of sales," and Def Jam didn't react well to the product they were being delivered. Their vision of the label was one that would release radio friendly, pop influenced tracks, which was clearly not what Paul had in mind. The label didn't care for any of the other acts that Paul had waiting in the wings, either.
In the end, the only release to ever come out on the Dew Doo Man imprint was the Resident Alien 12" Mr. Boops. Paul had a meeting with Cohen to try and save the label, but Cohen opted to shut down operations, leaving the full length album languishing unreleased. (Source)
Typical industry polititrix, yo. No wonder Paul went on to conceptualize Gravediggaz. As for the album - fortunately we live in a wondrous future-topia where even shelved and lost album can see the light of day. It's been floating around the net for some time now. In my humble opinion It Takes A Nation Of Suckas To Let Us In is a fun, worthwhile listen, if not necessarily on par with the many, many great full-length releases helmed by Prince Paul. The concept is clever, there are some wonderfully absurd/beautiful musical moments, and there's a cameo by Dres, but Prince Paul is so much better off working with top notch lyricists. Still, it's a nice little curiosity from one of hip-hop's greatest minds. Peep the album, plus some related vinyl material.
Resident Alien - It Takes A Nation Of Suckers To Let Us In LP (1991)
A phenomenal remixed version of this ODB classic. Produced by the one and only Lord Digga. Search our archives for a 2CD set of Digga productions.
24.a Kool G. Rap ft. Nas "Fast Life" (Norfside Remix)
24.b Kool G. Rap ft. Nas "Fast Life" (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)
25. Gangstarr "Gotta Get Over" (Large Pro Remix)
On this remix, Large Professor shows us what you can accomplish with a simple yet filthy bassline. Sometimes less is more.
26. OC "Word ... Life" (DJ Celory Remix)
27. J-Live "Braggin' Writes" (Domecracker Remix)
28. Dr. Octagon "Blue Flowers" (Prince Paul Remix)
Dan The Automator's version is one of the creepiest, unsettling, beautiful rap instrumentals ever. No stranger to eccentric mind-fuckery on wax, Prince Paul manages to craft a version every bit as eerie and absurd, for the win.
29. GZA ft. Inspektah Deck and D'Angelo "Cold World" (RZA Remix)
If you're looking for a track this X-mas to help you gain weight and abuse smack like it's featured guest, then check out the Cold World remix featuring D'Angelo. His haunting crooning of the chorus gives it an even more ominous feel than the original, complimented perfectly by a few subtle tweaks in the beat by RZA.
30. Cypress Hill ft. Redman, Erick Sermon, MC Eiht "Throw Your Set In The Air" (Remix)
The regulars at the T.R.O.Y. Forum are not your average message board denizens, no sir. Far from leeching lurkers, our regulars are expert compilers, DJs, bloggers, producers, etc. in their own right and tend to display the drive to get things done efficiently and collaboratively. One big rap nerd Voltron perhaps, but the T.R.O.Y. Movement gets things done, duns.
In recent weeks the hilariously named Wordbooty announced a plan to compile the entirety of Prince Paul's discography, going so far as to include extremely remixes and other obscure production and scratching credits. Wordbooty posted quite a few of his finds to demonstrate that he had been making progress, starting with remixes. Unfortunately, the great Zshare Outage of '08 left many of the files inaccessible. The T.R.O.Y. Forum's first lady Ho1Ogramz came to the rescue, and uploaded all of the files that have been amassed thus far.
As you can see, Prince Paul has produced for a very diverse set of artists, which makes sense given his eclectic and even eccentric tastes as a sampling genius.
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.
