Random VLS Drops: Diamond D - What U Heard

Fresh rip at 320kbps

A1. What U Heard [Radio Edit]

A2. "*!*!" What U Heard [Original LP Version]

A3. I'm Outta Here (My Name Is John Doe)

B1. You Can't Front (...It Is Real) [Vocal]

B2. You Can't Front (...It Is Real) [Instrumental]

B3. I'm Outta Here (My Name Is John Doe) [Radio Edit]

[Download full 12" single here.]

This isn't only worth having for the ill cover art, but you also get a great B-Side, featuring Sadat X and Lord Finesse. Everything on this was produced by Diamond D, with Buckwild on the co production for "You Can't Front", Showbiz on "I'm Outta Here", and Lakim Shabazz on "What U Heard".

You know the shit is real, you can't front, jack.

Peep the video for "What U Heard":

--Verge

J-Love “Nas' Finest” (Cassette)

CLASS-SICK!

This tape is one of those gems that never gets old (even with some J-Love drops on it). When I first got my hand on a copy of this tape, it really opened up my eyes to the possibility that a lot of artists had material that never made it on albums. And at the time, J-Love seemed to be the one with all the connections as every one of his tapes were covered in exclusives, remixes and unreleased tracks. See scans for track lists and the download contains a full scan of the j-card.
DOWNLOAD

Shouts to Ricky D for sending me a shoe box full of mixtapes many years ago. I'm finally getting around to ripping them.

enjoy,
--dirt_dog

Sweet 16's

Satchel Page teams up with Legends: Neek The Exotic, Mikey D, Sadat X, & Large Professor. Produced by Ayatollah

-- Thomas V

Trinity reminisce over Roc Raida

The group Trinity is compromised of emcees AG, Sadat X and turntablist DJ Jab. Check out these videos and be on the look out for the new album dropping on Fat Beats Records very soon. Just how many collabo albums is AG apart of this year? --Philaflava

In Retrospect: Brand Nubian - Everything Is Everything

In Retrospect is going a new theme we're doing where we present you with an album that is much better than you originally thought. An album that may have received mixed reviews or happened to shunned initially but as the years went on you slowly realize it was better than you gave it credit for.

First up, Brand Nubian's Everything Is Everything. '94 was chock full of dope releases so it's understandable how this might have either fell though the cracks or got mistreated by the competition. Fresh off one of the dopest follow-up albums without their franchise player, "In God We Trust" was an absolute masterpiece of the new two-man team. A balls to the wall album where there is no apologizing, no cheating the listener of dauntless lyrics and definitely no hiding from Lord Jamar or Sadat X ideologies.

The Nubians returned a year later with Everything Is Everything, a safer and more mature album if you will. What many people don't realize is that Lord Jamar was always responsible for the majority of the production on the Brand Nubian albums. Even though they did a few tracks here and there, many people think of Pete Rock, Stimulated Dummies, Diamond D, Lord Finesse or Buckwild as the prominent producers in the groups catalogs.

Jamar laces things on the infectious "Word Is Bond" all the way into the ridiculously underrated posse cut "Step Into Da Cipher" featuring Serge, Maestro Manny and blogosphere favorite Snagglepuss.

The group tackled germane topics and wholeheartedly ripped tracks like "Claimin I'm A Criminal," "Hold On" and "Return of The Dread." If anything, this album showcased Lord Jamars growth as a producer and an emcee. While it was difficult to outshine Puba on "One For All" and the controversial Sadat X on "In God We Trust," it's on "Everything Is Everything" that Jamar truly shines.

The album was full of head-nodding tracks like "Alladat" featuring Busta Rhymes and the remix of "Lick Dem Muthaphuckas" originally found on the Menace II Society soundtrack. While it might not be better than any previous Nuban efforts, it surely isn't an album that you could call anything less than great. This is their "Beats, Rhymes & Life." --Philaflava

Professor Griff & Society - Blackdraft (1993) VLS

Here we have the 12-inch of Professor Griff & Society's Blackdraft off Griff's "Disturn N Tha Peace" album released in 1993 on Luke Records. Besides the two great remixes which are remixed by Griff, this 12" is worth for its b-side(...wins again) because of its obscure forgotten non-album "5% Percenter" posse cut "Verbal Intercourse"(pre-OB4CL) featuring Lord Jamar & Sadat X of Brand Nubian and Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers. Enjoy this 12" and make sure to add this cut to your favorite hip-hop obscure list!

A1. Professor Griff & Society - Blackdraft (Blackdot Remix)
A2. Professor Griff & Society - Blackdot Instrumental
A3. Professor Griff & Society - Voicez From The Essence (Blaccapella)
A4. Professor Griff & Society - Blackdraft LP Version
B1. Professor Griff & Society - Blacksteel Pineal Gland Mix
B2. Professor Griff & Society - 107. Live (At The Slave Theater)
B3. Professor Griff & Society - Verbal Intercourse (Featuring Brand Nubian & Wise Intelligent)

Download

-- Thomas V

Best Of Westwood Radio Freestyles - Nas, Biggie, OC, Das Efx, Cam'Ron...

This was submitted by our friend Dj Step One from the TROY forum. If you're digging this, check his blog out: Only Built For zShare Links

"I’ve spent the last few weeks sorting through that dusty box of tapes that so many older Hip Hop heads have stashed away somewhere and have been digitizing the various treats I’ve come across.

As Hip Hop was scarce on English radio in the 90s, most of these tapes are recordings of Tim Westwood’s show on BBC Radio 1. Up until 1994, Westwood only broadcast in London and the surrounding area, first on pirate stations LWR and Kiss FM, and then legitimately on Capital FM.

A move to the BBC in 1994 gave him two 3 hour shows every week and meant that Hip Hop heads nationwide finally had the opportunity to hear first hand the exclusives and guest appearances that would make up Tim’s show. It often meant staying in on a Friday or Saturday night, but as some of these freestyles prove, it was worth it!

I was going to do a profile of Big Tim but then remembered that Stretch Armstrong gave him a mention on his blog a while back and I couldn’t think of a better person to rubber stamp Westwood’s contribution to Hip Hop radio."

Stretch Armstrong, speaking on The Flavor Unit track ‘The Flavor Unit Assassination Squad’:

"Bobbito and I got hip to this record via the homie Tim Westwood in London who used to have what may have been the most progressive hip-hop show on earth in the late 80's. Because he was free to operate outside of the beef that had split NYC rap radio in the late 80's but also was very close to both Red and Marley (though closer to Marley who eventually would broadcast a version of In Control on his show in the UK), Tim would bless the airwaves with crazy exclusives and remixes, AND, influenced by his roots in 80's Jamaican and UK dancehall, was the first, and perhaps only, hip-hop personality to get all the hot emcees to re-record their hits with his name in them, sound-clash style. Many in the UK complained that Tim didn't support home-grown talent, but we sure didn't care, 'cause we'd frequently hear shit from his tapes first, sometimes to never be heard anywhere else. I'd have to confirm it with Aaron Fuchs, but I believe Tuff City only released this record after we played it on KCR from a cassette from Westwood's show."

Previews:

Akinyele & Sadat X (1996)

Cam'Ron (1998)

Das Efx (1995)

Masta Ace (1998)

Nas & De La Soul (1996)

Biggie Smalls & Craig Mack (1995)

OC (1994)

Snoop, Daz, & Kurupt (1994)

Download in one folder here.

--Verge

Hot 97 Radio Freestyles Pt.2 (1996)

About 3 weeks ago, I posted a 12" containing a few Hot 97 radio freestyles from the likes of Nas, Cormega, ATCQ, Wu-Tang, and Heltah Skeltah. It was part of a series of vinyls called Freestyle AllStars released on Wild Style Records. I only owned volume 2 of the series .

After seeing a comment from dirt_dog, he informed me that he had a few of those other volumes. He immediately ripped all the volumes so that it could be shared to everyone. Below you will find all the artists involved on the first installment.

A1. Krs-One - Freestyle #1
A2. Pudgee - Freestyle #1
A3. Sadat X - Freestyle
A4. La The Darkman - Freestyle
B1. Pete Rock & INI - Freestyle
B2. Pudgee - Freestyle #2
B3. Method Man & Redman - Freestyle
B4. Krs-One - Freestyle #2
B5. Busta Rhymes & Rampage - Freestyle

Ripped exclusively by dirt_dog for The T.R.O.Y. Blog

Download

Other volumes coming soon.

-- Thomas V

Fifty RemixesYou Need To Hear (31-40)

Well, we're moving right along through the list and we here at T.R.O.Y. hope you've enjoyed what you've heard thus far.  If you've just arrived check out Selections 1-10, Selections 11-20, and Selections 21-30, and then devour today's picks. 

31. Ice Cube "What Can I Do?" (Ali Shaheed Eastside Remix)

32. Masta Ace "Saturday Night Live" (L.A. Jay Remix)

33. Nas ft. Sadat X. "One Love" (One L Main Mix)

The Groove Merchantz, a team consisting of Godfather Don and V.I.C. enlist Brand Nubian member Sadat X to help give this personal ode to fam locked up an even more intimate vibe. The drums remain, but in comes the horns that help to recreate the track. And while the original hook sported by Q-Tip was soothing, this one is more conspicuous and catchy.

34. Hard 2 Obtain "Ghetto Diamond" (Remix)

35. Ultramagnetic MCs "Saga Of Dandy, The Devil, And Day" (Remix)

The original's slow, plodding beat never sounded quite right combined with the raps by Kool Keith and Ced Gee. The drums have been brought forward and the awkwardly placed trumpet has been wisely moved to the background, creating a much more aurally pleasing sound and really letting you concentrate on the lyrics.

36. Kurious "I'm Kurious" (Pete Nice Remix)
  

While the infectious "Mysterious Vibes" sample is always appreciated, Pete Nice decided to give "I'm Kurious" some more bap for it's boom. The lyrics may be the same, but the track certainly isn't.

37. Souls Of Mischief "Never No More" (76 Seville Mix)

38. Compton's Most Wanted "Def Wish II" (DJ Premiere Remix)

It's bad enough MC Eiht got at DJ Quik, but to add insult to injury DJ Premier remixed possibly the best Def Wish track out of the series and made the DJ Slip verison absolutely forgettable. This was one of the first Westcoast remixes Work of Mart produced.

39. Chi-Ali "Funky Lemonade" (Beatnuts Remix)

40. Jungle Brothers ft. Q-Tip "On The Road Again" (Remix)

Download all of today's songs here:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?y5yjqjbjj2x

Tune in tomorrow for selections 41-50.

30 Minute Classic Freestyle Session

The Roots provided the live music for this freestyle session on WNYU sometime in the mid 90's.

The sound quality isn't as good as it could've been, being that I'm sure there weren't enough mics to properly set up and record. But still,this session is illll!

I'll do my best to list who all are rhyming here- 

Sadat X, L-Swift(Natural Elements), Lord Tariq(Money Boss Players), 

Dice Raw, Brotha Jeff X, Black Thought, Half A Mil(RIP), Dutchess,

After Dutchess,I can't call it. I know The Roots get back on the mic, but that's all I can say for sure. The cats are pretty amped and yelling a lot at this point. If you can name everyone after Dutchess, leave a list in the comments. The beat changes up 4 times throughout the session. All Roots renditions of classic beats we all know and love.

Download here and enjoy.

Thanks to boogzthedon for uploading this at the T.R.O.Y. forum

--Verge

 

Sadat X - Non-Album Tracks Volume 3

Sadat X - Non-Album Tracks Volume 3
1. Sadat X - Wake Up Show Freestyle #1
2. Sadat X - Wake Up Show Freestyle #2
3. Sadat X - Wake Up Show Freestyle #3
4. Sadat X & Xzibit - Wake Up Show Freestyle
5. Sadat X, Grand Puba & Lord Jamar - Lump Lump (Remix)
6. Sadat X, Grand Puba & Lord Jamar - Lump Lump (DJ Shadow Remix)
7. Sadat X & Grand Puba - Next Spot
8. Sadat X, Grand Puba & Wakeem - Straight Talk From New York
9. RA The Rugged Man & Sadat X - 50,000 Heads
10. Sadat X, Redman & June Lover - You & You & You
11. Sadat X, Diamond D & Fat Joe - Nasty Hoes
12. Diamond D & Sadat X - Never
13. Diamond D & Sadat X - Feel It
14. Sadat X - It Goes Down Once Again
15. Sadat X & Grand Puba - Once Again
16. Kid Capri, Brand Nubian & Diamond D - Hot This Year
17. Brand Nubian - Keep Bubblin’ (Vinyl Reanimators Remix)
18. Sadat X, Xzibit & Kid Creole - Handle Your Time
19. Sir Menelik, Sadat X & Grand Puba - 7XL
20. Common Sense & Sadat X - 1-9-9-9
http://www.mediafire.com/?2xjgdmdmtdb

--Roy Johnson

Sadat X - Non-Album Tracks Volume 2

Sadat X - Non-Album Tracks Volume 2
1. Diamond D, Sadat X & Lord Finesse - You Can’t Front
2. Grand Puba & Sadat X - I Flip Styles
3. Grand Puba & Sadat X - How Ya Livin’
4. Notorious BIG & Sadat X - Come On (Original)
5. Notorious BIG & Sadat X - Come On (Remix)
6. Kurious, Sadat X & Mike G - Mansion And A Yacht
7. Brand Nubian - Lick Dem Muthaphuckas
8. Brand Nubian - Word Is Bond (Remix)
9. Brand Nubian - Hold On (Remix)
10. Groove Theory & Brand Nubian - Tell Me (Remix)
11. Grand Puba & Sadat X - I Like It (Remix)
12. Grand Puba & Sadat X - Play It Cool
13. Cedric Ceballos, Dana Barros & Brand Nubian - Ya Don’t Stop
14. Sadat X & Akinyele - Loud Hangover
15. Lord Finesse, Large Professor, Sadat X & Grand Puba - Actual Facts
16. OGC & Sadat X - Wild Cowboys In Bucktown
17. House Of Pain, Sadat X & Divine Styler - Heart Full Of Sorrow
18. Omniscience & Sadat X - Touch Y’All (Remix)
19. Sadat X - Straight East Coast
http://www.mediafire.com/?6am1tzjfdlx

Stay tuned for volume 3.

--Roy Johnson

Sadat X - Non-Album Tracks Volume 1

Sadat X - Non-Album Tracks Volume 1
1. Brand Nubian - All For One (Tramp Remix)
2. Brand Nubian - Concerto In X Minor (Remix)
3. Brand Nubian - Slow Down (Pete Rock Remix)
4. KMD & Brand Nubian - Nitty Gritty
5. KMD & Brand Nubian - Nitty Gritty (Remix)
6. Professor Griff & Brand Nubian - Verbal Intercourse
7. ATCQ, Brand Nubian & Diamond D - Show Business
8. Diamond D & Brand Nubian - A Day In The Life
9. Sadat X - Stretch & Bobbito 1992 Freestyle
10. Brand Nubian - Mister Cee Freestyle Shit
11. Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (Remix #1)
12. Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (Remix #2)
13. Brand Nubian - Allah U Akbar (Remix)
14. Brand Nubian - Steal Ya Ho (Remix)
15. Brand Nubian - Love Me Or Leave Me Alone (Remix)
16. Rough House Survivors & Sadat X - We Come To Get Wreck
17. Artifacts & Brand Nubian - Check Da Fine Print
http://www.mediafire.com/?t3nngdbomgl

Stay tuned for volumes 2 and 3.

--Roy Johnson