Rakim “The R: The Best Of The Rest”

My God, the Philaflava Forum is such a great place! What started as a single person posting a link to 3 volumes of Rakim material has turned in to a monster project. So far I have finished 6 volumes on my own and probably have an additional 6 to come. Most of the tracks came from various rips I have collected over the years. Shouts to musiclover123 for compiling the initial 3 volumes and to truthaddict for posting about it. Special thanks to Roy Johnson, Step One and DJ Mike Nice for posting more tracks from the vaults and spending time to rips their vinyls.

There will be some remixes & mash-ups in here that people are going to hate, but there are also plenty of great surprises. If you don't like it, don't download it. This is my attempt to get EVERYTHING in one place. If you have something to add, please leave a comment or add on to the thread in the forum.

The original 3 volumes can be downloaded HERE.

Rakim - The R: The Best Of The Rest Part 1

01 Eric B and Rakim - As The Rhyme Goes On (Radio Mix)

02 Eric B and Rakim - Bobby Corridor Short Mix

03 Eric B and Rakim - Casualties Of War (Extended Club Camouflage Version)

04 Eric B and Rakim - Casualties Of War (Militant Remix)

05 Eric B and Rakim - Casualties Of War (Soulpower Remix)

06 Eric B and Rakim - Complicatem (Pass The Handgrenade Pt. 2)

07 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Belief Summer '04 Remix)

08 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Dub)

09 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Funky Ginger Club Version)

10 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Funky Ginger Radio Edit)

11 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Funky Ginger Single Edit)

12 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (UK Flavor Club Version)

13 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (UK Flavor Radio Edit)

14 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (UK Flavor Single Edit)

15 Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Xtended)

DOWNLOAD PART 1

Rakim - The R: The Best Of The Rest Part 2

01 Eric B and Rakim - Eric B. Is President (Dub)

02 Eric B and Rakim - Follow The Leader (Dub)

03 Eric B and Rakim - Follow The Leader (Gene Carbonells Less Equals More Mix)

04 Eric B and Rakim - Follow The Leader (Rjd2 Remix)

05 Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Booty Camp Remix)

06 Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Dub)

07 Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (The Richie Rich Mega Mix)

08 Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul 2002 (Illicit Remix)

09 Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul bw Cru - Just Another Case

10 Eric B and Rakim - In The Ghetto (Blockhead vs. Omega One Extended Remix)

11 Eric B and Rakim - In The Ghetto (Cuts Mix)

12 Eric B and Rakim - In The Ghetto (DJ Revolution Remix)

13 Eric B and Rakim - In The Ghetto (Drums Mix)

14 Eric B and Rakim - In The Ghetto (Extended Mix)

15 Eric B and Rakim - In The Ghetto (Freestyle Mix)

DOWNLOAD PART 2

Rakim - The R: The Best Of The Rest Part 3

01 Eric B and Rakim - In The Ghetto (Omega One Remix)

02 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (45 King Club Mix)

03 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (Brixton Bass Mix)

04 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (Brixton Upso Mix)

05 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (Chris Read Remix) (1990)

06 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (Clean UPSO Mix)

07 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (DJ Shadow Remix)

08 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (Mark 45 King Mix)

09 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (Mashed Up Funk Remix)

10 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (The Riddin' Dub)

11 Eric B and Rakim - Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em (Upso Dub)

12 Eric B and Rakim - Mahogany (Beat Bass and Rakim)

13 Eric B and Rakim - Mahogany (Extended Remix Version)

14 Eric B and Rakim - Microphone Fiend (45 King Extended Remix)

15 Eric B and Rakim - Microphone Fiend (DaBlenda Mix)

DOWNLOAD PART 3

Rakim - The R: The Best Of The Rest Part 4

01 Eric B and Rakim - Microphone Fiend (Extended Remix)

02 Eric B and Rakim - Microphone Fiend (Remix)

03 Eric B and Rakim - Move The Crowd (The Democratic 3 Remix)

04 Eric B and Rakim - Move The Crowd (The Wild Bunch Remix)

05 Eric B and Rakim - My Melody (Dub)

06 Eric B and Rakim - No Omega (Extended Remix)

07 Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full (Cold Cut Remix)

08 Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full (Derek B's Urban Respray)

09 Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full (Mini Madness) (The Coldcut Remix)

10 Eric B and Rakim - Paid In Full (Seven Minutes Of Madness: The Coldcut Remix)

11 Eric B and Rakim - Put Your Hands Together (Fan Force Mix)

12 Eric B and Rakim - The R (Extended Remix)

13 Eric B and Rakim - The R (Remix Edit)

14 Eric B and Rakim - The R (Work Rest and Play Remix by Dave Dorrell and CJ Macintosh)

DOWNLOAD PART 4

Rakim - The R: The Best Of The Rest Part 5

01 Rakim - Acapella Freestyle One

02 Rakim - Acapella Freestyle Two

03 Rakim - Guess Who's Back (Alternative Mix)

04 Rakim - Guess Who's Back (Break Remix)

05 Rakim - Guess Who's Back (So So Def Remix)

06 Rakim - Guess Who's Back [G.C.'s Remix]

07 Rakim - It's Been A Long Time (Suave House Mix)

08 Rakim - Light It Up feat. Faith Evans

09 Rakim - Streets Of New York feat. Alicia Keys and Nas (DJ Easy Remix)

10 Rakim - The Saga Begins (DJ Easy Remix)

11 Rakim - The Saga Begins (S.T.T.R.E.S.S. Mix)

12 Rakim - When I B On The Mic (DJ G Sweet Mix)

13 Rakim and Truth Hurts - The Watcher 2 (Rakim Verse Mix)

14 Rakim feat. M.O.P. - It's Nothin (Remix)

15 Rakim vs. Black Grass - Heat It Up (Jayceeoh Remix)

DOWNLOAD PART 5

Rakim - The R: The Best Of The Rest Part 6

01 Rakim vs. Midnight Star - Got Me Curious

02 Rakim vs. Porno For Pyros - DJ Muggs and DJ Warrior Mash-Up

03 Jason Nevins vs. Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Original Remix)

04 Jason Nevins vs. Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Breakz Mix)

05 Jason Nevins vs. Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Caba Knoll Remix)

06 Jason Nevins vs. Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Spacekid vs. Funkfried Remix)

07 Jason Nevins vs. Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (JN Club Mix)

08 Jason Nevins vs. Eric B and Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Clap Your Hands Edit)

09 2Pac - Nothin' Like The Ol' Skool feat. Slick Rick Rakim and Big Daddy Kane (Cinema Remix)

10 2Pac and The Notorious BIG - Outlawz feat. Rakim

11 Art Of Noise feat. Rakim - Metaforce (Roni Size Mix)

12 DJ Break - KRS-1-My Philosophy bw Gang Starr-DWYCK bw Eric B and Rakim-Pump Up The Volume bw MC Humor bw Slick Rick-Children's Story - Ghetto Superstar (Break Remix)

13 Eightball and MJG - It's Been A Long Time feat. Rakim

14 Erykah Badu vs. Eric B and Rakim - On and On (Jayceeoh Remix)

15 Havoc, Jay-Z, Rakim, Jadakiss, Biggie, Prodigy and Nas - Seven MCs

DOWNLOAD PART 6

enjoy,

--dirt_dog

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

Wyandanch High School Jam '85 - Biz Markie and Rakim

Holy shit. This was spotted over at DJ Stepone's blog which linked to it from Old School Hip Hop Tapes. Back on the forum, our good homie DJ Mike Nice purports to be the internet originator of this tape. I don't know who had what first, but regardless this is an amazing find:

Wyandanch High School Jam (1985)
Featuring: Biz Markie, Kid Wizard Rakim, MC Chilly Dawg, Grandwizard BMC & DJ Fantasy, Inc.

(1 of 2): The pre-party festivities jumped off by DJ Fantasy, Inc. rocking over the vintage 'beatbox' drum machine.
http://www.zshare.net/download/6944664684337df6/

(2 of 2): The main event featuring Biz Markie with DJ Grandwizard BMC (from the group Groove B. Chill) joined by MC Chilly Dawg(aka Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, also from Groove B. Chill). Later on, a VERY SPECIAL impromptu guest appearance from none other than the Kid Wizard Rakim Allah!!! He drops a couple of verses during track #10 in the folder.

http://www.zshare.net/download/69447294fd7ebf19/

Holy shit. That's all there really is to say about this. -- Thun

Rakim - The Seventh Seal Tour (Live @El Rey Theatre) Los Angeles

"Eric B ain't on the cut, but my name is Rakim"








Check out the live performances of Microphone Fiend, Mahogany, Paid In Full & I Know You Got Soul HERE! Subscribe to my channel, I got something cool from this show that I'll post soon. To see when Rakim is rocking in your city, check the tour dates. Peace.

-- Thomas V

Rakim talks about Dr. Dre and Aftermath

HardKnockTV got up with the God Rakim to discuss his current relationship with Dr. Dre, why things didn't work out for him at Aftermath and if "Oh My God" will ever come out. Peace to Nick Huff. --Philaflava

King Sun, Rhymefest, & Percee P - Oct. 28

This past Wednesday, I went to see the god Rakim @The Seventh Seal Tour in LA. Rhymefest is touring with Rakim. The video I'm posting is just incredible! Let me tell you the story. First, Rhymefest was doing his thing on stage and then he asked if there were any mc's in the crowd. Percee P, who was in the crowd, tried to catch Rhymefest intention but he didn't recognize him at first. Rhymefest even said something like "You got cds? You gotta be good to press up your own shit". After he found out that it was Percee P, Rhymefest went on to rhyme "I'm Percee P, P stands for pimp...". A couple minutes after that, who do I see coming in the crowd? King Sun! He went close to the stage, Percee P praised him. Then he saw Rhymefest and got on stage. The video starts with Rhymefest introducing the legendary King Sun, who then asks Percee P to jump on stage. Percee P didn't touch the mic but King Sun killed it when he mentioned him throwing his cds!

I also recorded footage from Rakim's performance which I have to do some editing before I post it. One thing I'm going to tell you is that there was this security guard that kept telling me & my bro to stop recording. Because of this shit, I didn't get to record this moment when King Sun praised Rakim live on stage. I'm still mad about not getting it on tape! It was legendary!

One last thing, my brother got to talk to King Sun and while talking about the Strictly Ghetto EP, Sun told him that the track "Street Corner" was Mr. Magic's last appearance on a record. R.I.P Mr. Magic.



-- Thomas V

Rakim - The Cellar (Instrumentals)

Last year we brought you The Cellar EP courtesy of our homie DJ Mike Nice and now Mike is blessing the internet again with the INSTRUMENTAL versions.

We can't thank him enough and suggest you check out his blog and lend a kind word or two yourself. For anyone who wants this on wax, Mike has an extra copy for sale/trade as well. --Philaflava

EP w/Instrumentals
The EP

Sounds Like The 90's (Volume 8)

Better late than ever...

I was actually waiting on a few tracks before I finalized this but I won't continue to bore you with semantics. Let's get right in to the mix, it's definitely more east coast heavy this time around but I feel it complete that proper summer blend I was going for. Enjoy! --Philaflava

Sounds Like The 90's (Volume 8)

1. Statik Seletah - Critically Acclaimed feat. Lil Fame, Saigon & Sean Price
2. Nut-Ragous - NYC To LA feat. Jay Rock
3. Slaughterhouse - Microphone (prod. Alchemist)
4. Uncle Murder - Summertime Shootouts (prod. DJ Premier)
5. French Montana - New York Minute (Remix) feat. Jadakiss, Lil Cease, Mic Geronimo & Noreaga
6. Rakim - Holy Are You
7. DJ Honda - Magnetic Arts feat. Mos Def
8. Atmosphere - Feel Good Hit of The Summer 2
9. Luckyiam - Sumpthin 2 Say feat. Imani & Pep Love
10. Raekwon - Flying Daggers feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man
11. J Dilla - Reality TV feat. Black Thought
12. Nino Bless - Boom Bap Shit feat. Skyzoo, Ras Kass, Rhymefest & Scram Jones (prod. Madlib)
13. Havoc - Always Have A Choice
14. Tame One - Freedom of Speech
15. Young Chris - Last Two feat. Freeway & Beanie Sigel
16. Freedie Gibbs - How We Do ('93 Til Freestyle)*
17. Ras Kass - Mike Jacks*

* Bonus Freestyles

Download Sounds Like The 90's (Volume 8)

Link #1 (Mediafire)

Link #2 (Deposit Files)
Link #3 (Zshare)
Link #4 (Rapidshare)

Catch up on all 8 volumes here.

Peace and props to Kalel for knocking out this cover last minute and incorporating my idol (Rickey) on it. Big shout out to Strategy for taggin' and bagging this mix properly so you all could have little pretty images and proper tags for each track. Peace to the T.R.O.Y. and Steady Bloggin' fam. We run this blogosphere rap shit!

Does GZA have to smack a bitch?

Disregard the pasteoid to doing the interview. Invest the 3 minutes, have a laugh or two and listen to what Gary Grice aka GZA has to say. Peace to Chelsea from KarmaLoop TV.

And just to keep the laughs going let us not forget the extremely awkward gun-2-da-dome Al-Qaeda style video by the man GZA was just talking about.

--Philaflava

Don't Sweat The Technique

Don't Sweat The Technique
1. Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Mardi Gras Instrumental)
2. Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Original Version)
3. Gangstarr - Check The Technique
4. Original Flavor - Handle The Technique
5. 3rd Bass & Nice N Smooth - Microphone Techniques
6. Eric B & Rakim- Don't Sweat The Technique
7. Artifacts - Flexi Wit Da Technique
8. Black Attack - Correct Technique (Instrumental)
9. Company Flow - Juvenile Technique (Remix)
10. Basement Khemists - Correct Technique
11. Gangstarr - Check The Technique (Remix)
12. Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Edit Mix)
13. Artifacts - Flexi Wit Da Technique (Demo)
14. Basement Khemists - Correct Technique (Instrumental)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ukxmnifz2mm

Preview:

Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Original Version)


Original Flavor - Handle The Technique


Black Attack - Correct Technique (Instrumental)


Gangstarr - Check The Technique (Remix)


Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (Edit Mix)


--Roy Johnson

Rakim "The Cellar" EP

Peace to our readers from every corner of the world. I'm going to keep this short and simple. Tweet this: T.R.O.Y. has Rakim The Cellar EP for you to download. 'Nuff respeck to DJ Mike Nice for the generous hook up.

The facts as they are reported at Soundtable (who collaborated with LA-based Tres Records and NY-based No Sleep Records on this):

Rakim: The Cellar EP

The Cellar EP is a collection of three unheard Rakim sessions and instrumentals; previously unreleased and limited only to this 300 pressed vinyl.

“Man With A Gun”.

Recorded by Rakim in 2002, this song was done strictly for an underground buzz 12” that was never released.

“Once Upon A Rhyme” (Original Version).

Recorded by Rakim in 1995, this song/version was a last minute deletion from the “18th Letter” LP.

BONUS TRACK “Show Me Love” (Rugged Version).

Recorded by Rakim in 1996, this version had to be remixed for the “18th Letter” LP, due to sample clearance issues.

All songs are produced by Nick Wiz.

All scratches are provided by D.J. Slyce.

My take: this shit is really dope. It's Rakim. "Once Upon A Rhyme" shares some lyrics with "Various Shades Of Black." It's a damned shame Rakim didn't release an album in 1995.

Download Link @ Mediafire

Backup Link @ Megaupload

Note: The instrumentals are not included. Cry me a river.

-- Thun

Don't forget to grab today's other exclusive: Illmatic 15 Years Later (pdf scan from XXL magazine)

Last Episode of Yo! MTV Raps

I'm sure everybody has seen this classic freestyle session at least once. The freestyle was cut into two parts. The first part had Rakim, Krs One, Erick Sermon, Chubb Rock, and MC Serch. After the commercial, they came back with Redman, Method Man, Large Pro, Special Ed, and Craig Mack. You can also see Rampage the Last Boy Scout in the crowd; I don't know why he didn't appear on the freestyle. Dj Skribble was on the turntables. They rhymed over the instrumentals of It's My Thing, Mad Izm, and Real Hip Hop(Pete Rock Remix). I've always loved it when Erick Sermon is rapping and the beat switches to "Real Hip Hop".

Download
Part 1
Part 2

--Thomas V

Setting It Off, Letting It Off, Beginning...

Welcome to the official blog of Philaflava.com's T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You) forum. "T.R.O.Y." is of course a reference to Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's ode to their fallen friend (Trouble T-Roy of Heavy D. and The Boyz). If the previous sentence reads like a foreign language to you, don't fret. The purpose of this blog is to explore and celebrate rap music (especially the overlooked and obscure recordings and artists) from about 1987 to 1997, give or take a few years on either end. We are not purists or elitists, just a bunch of proud rap nerds who revel in sharing our discoveries with anyone willing to listen.

Over at the T.R.O.Y. forum we spend most of our work week discussing artists like Scientifik, Godfather Don, K.M.D, Brand Nubian, Mobb Deep, Souls Of Mischief, Avatar the Articulate, Juggaknots, and the like. This daily effort results in the uploading of songs and albums previously unavailable in formats other than dusty vinyl, some of which are long out of print. We frequently take the time to compile songs that share similar themes or moods. Just as the rap culture of the '90s (think Stretch and Bobbito, Sway & Tech and countless college and mixtape DJs) demanded that a class of obsessed aficionados isolate and organize the rawest tracks floating below the radar for our listening pleasure, the Internet age demands similar vigilance.

Stay tuned - in addition to providing you with a steady stream of links straight outta T.R.O.Y. we will also be posting mixes and analyses exclusive to this blog, as well as keeping an eye out for the best of what the throwback rap blogosphere has to offer. Consider this your one stop shop for "The Rap Of Yore" - just don't ever call it that.

Because we're so glad you found us - below you'll find a little introductory gift I call "Demo Listen Derby." Happy downloading and welcome aboard. --- Thun

DEMO LISTEN DERBY