Sounds Like The 90s (Best Of) Vol. 12

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

18. Juice Crew All-Stars - Mr. Magic Tribute

B-Side:

1 Cormega - Who Am I feat. AZ & Nature

2 Wu-Tang Clan - Radiant Jewels feat. Cormega & Sean Price

3 Mos Def - Auditorium feat. Slick Rick

4 Jay Electronica - Suckas

5 Nut-Ragous - NYC To LA feat. Jay Rock

6 DJ JS-1 - Ridiculous feat. OC & Pharohe Monch

7 Insight - Strategy feat. AG & EDO. G

8 Cormega - Define Yourself feat. Tragedy Khadafi & Havoc

9 BK-One - Here I Am feat. Phonte, Brother Ali & The Grouch

10 Drake - Think Good Thoughts feat. Phonte & Elzhi

11 Fashawn - Samsonite Man feat. Blu

12 Godamus Rhyme - Passin Me By 2009 feat. Stik Figa

13 Tha Connection - Take It Higher

14 Nero - Alive & Vibrant

15 Bobby Creekwater - Junkie

16 Notes To Self - Yellow & Grey (Remix) feat. Dilated Peoples

17 Finale - Heat

18 Fresh Daily - Supaspectacular!
19. Jay Electronica - Exhibit C (Bonus Track)

Download Vol. 12

Download all 12 volumes here.

Props to Strategy for the tagged version, Blake Reznik and Tal Danan for yet another sick cover.

Happy Holidays From Us

The folks here at the T.R.O.Y. blog wish you a happy and healthy New Year. For the next few days we'll be taking a break from providing you with blog goodies, while we prep for the new year that awaits. We do have a little treat for you, but you'll have to check back in a bit as we finish up the wrapping on it.

In the meantime if you haven't collected all 100 tracks from our latest compilation, 100 Tracks You Need To Hear (97-99), then take the time now to catch-up. A lot of work went into creating this bad boy so we don't want anyone to miss out.

Don't forget our little brother Steady Bloggin' and remember you can always stay connected with us via Twitter, Facebook and Myspace.

Peace and enjoy the holidays.

100x - Philly Niggas International feat. Black Thought, Malik B & Rasheed Wallace
2Rude - Innovations feat. Saukrates & Pharaohe Monch
3X Krazy - Keep It On The Real
Above the Law - Deep Az the Root
Aceyalone & Abstract Rude - Me & My Main
Adagio - The Break
Agallah - Crookie Monster
All City - Afta Hourz
All Natural - Writer's Block
Arsonists - Fat Laces
B-1 - Life We Lead
Bee Why - Come Up
Big Kwam - The Reunion
Binary Star - Evolution Of Man
BQE - Last Messiah
Brainsick Enterprize - Time To Shine
Brick City Kids - What What
Burnt Batch - Temptation
Camp Lo - Black Nostaljack (Remix) feat. Kid Capri and Run
Capone-N-Noreaga - Closer (Sam Sneed Version)
C-Bo - Money By The Ton
Chubb Rock- The Mind
CNN feat. Nas - Bloody Money Part IV (Remix)
Connecticut Cartel - All Out
Cru ft. Black Rob - Nothin' But
D. Auguste - Sunset
Da Great Deity Dah - Ready To Kill
Da Ruckus & Eminem - "We Shine"
Danja Mowf - Make It Hot feat. Lonnie B
Defari - Say It Twice
Demastas - Feel No Guilt (Feat. Nine)
Devin The Dude & K-Dee - "One Day At A Time"
Diamon D "Flowin"
Digital Underground - The Odd Couple (Humpty Hump and Biz Markie)
Divine Styler - Before Mecca
DJ Shadow - Organ Donor (Extended Overhaul)
Dres - Hi & Lo
Equilibrium - Windows '98
Finsta Bundy - Don't Stress Tomorrow
Fly Guy Kool Kim - Ya Gotta Know (Dolo Fly Guy Version)
Foul Play - Break It Down (Maylay Sparks)
Frankenstein - "Rain Is Gone"
Govna Mattic - Family Day feat. Redman, Tame One, Young Zee, Pace Won, Runt Dog & Roz Noble
Grouch "Once Upon A Rhyme"
Guerilla Maab - "Keep Watching Me"
Haiku De'Tat "Non Compos Mentis"
Handsome Boy Modeling School - The Truth" feat. J-Live & Roisin Murphy
Herbaliser - 8 Pt. Agenda feat. Latryx
I-Power - Under Da Sun
Ice-T - NY NY
Ill Advised - Mic-Adelphia
Jedi Son of Spock & Yeshua dapoED - "Spitmode"
Killarmy - Allah Sees Everything
Kool DJ EQ - Three Emcees feat. Casual, DEL & Xzibit
Kool Keith - Plastic World
K-Otix - Do You Wanna Be An Emcee?
La The Darkman ft. Raekwon "Az The World Turnz"
Last Emperor - "Echo Leader"
Living Legends "Hip Hop"
Lords of the Underground - Retaliate
L'Roneous da Versifier - L'chemy
Mac Dre - Rapper Gone Bad
Mike Zoot feat. Royal Flush - The Turn Pt. 2
Moodswingaz - Musslin
Mountain Brothers - Thoroughbred
Mr. Live & Tony Bones - Splashin' Over Monica
Murs - All Day
Neek The Exotic - Exotic Is Raw
No I.D. - Original Man
Non-Phixion - How To Kill A Cop
Outsidaz - Money Money Money
People Under The Stair - The Turndown
Pep Love - Trinity
Planet Asia - Kalidascope
Pyro - Status Quotient
R.A.W. - Linguistic Ventriloquist
Rakim - Waiting For The World To End
Rasco - Heat Seeking
Rezidue - Droppin Rezidue
Saafir - I'm Saafir (the Saucy Nomad)
Sach - Poetical Me
Scaramanga - Holdin' New Cards
Seagram - Sleepin In My Nikes feat. Scarface
Self Scientific - Degrees
Shamus - Tight Team
Slick Rick - King Piece in the Chess Game
Souls Of Mischief - Shooting Stars
Spice 1 - Suckas Do What They Can Real Playas feat. Yukmouth, Too Short and Roger Troutman
Storm The Unpredictable - MC's Be Killin Me
Street Smartz - Don't Trust Anyone
Tasc 4orce - Root Of All Evil
Thrust - Emcee
Tony Da Skitzo - Let's Drift
Ugly Duckling - Einstein's Takin' Off
Voodu - Introduction
Wee Bee Foolish - The Kid
Witchdoctor, Khujo, & T-Mo Goodie - Smooth Shit
Wu-Syndicate - Where Was Heaven
Yah Supreme - Old & Wise
Young Lay - Got 2 Survive feat. Mac Mall, Ray Luv & 2Pac

DOWNLOAD THEM ALL

100 Tracks You Need To Hear (97-99) Part IV

The T.R.O.Y. Blog Presents
100 Tracks You Need To Hear Part IV

1997-1999. You swear it wasn’t that long ago, but you know it might as well have been eons ago. Depending on your outlook, this is either the tail end of a gilded age or the beginning of the apocalypse. During this time, the hip hop artists born circa 1970 who catapulted the genre forward as teenagers and young adults in the ’87-’94 heyday are beginning to mellow out or gloss it up. Sampling laws are enforced more than ever but the indie labels are resolute in refusing to go the glittery route. Radio is dominated by obvious samples and tales of upward mobility and debauchery, while the underground mixshows stay saturated with eccentric rhyming clinics and surreal poetics. The divide is not entirely clean, however. In this era you can find surreal poets waxing profound on diamonds and champagne, gritty crime narratives on major label releases, and a whole host of songs that defy categorization (and a few that even defy simple explanation). This series is for those of you who know that the late ‘90s is deeper than just Organized Konfusion, Ras Kass, Mase, Nas, and Company Flow (no disrespect intended of course). This is for those of you that know that great hip hop comes from all corners of the USA and around the world, that the b-sides of overlooked 12”s and the album cuts of long forgotten tapes contain true gems. Songs that speak to our hunger for dope beats and lyrics and manage to stand out from the crowd. We made a special effort to seek out songs that you probably haven’t heard or don’t really remember too clearly, while making sure that each selection hearkens backs to the last era in which musical diversity and quality could be taken for granted. You need to hear this. Enjoy our 100 picks, coming at you at the rate of twenty five per day just in time for the holidays.

R.A.W. - Linguistic Ventriloquist
Straight out of Delaware, R.A.W. drops a relentless rhyme style over a crisp, jazzy beat. A rare but very worthwhile treat.

Rakim - Waiting For The World To End
The God MC describes life in the bleak world of Wyandanche, Strong Island over understated but fitting production.

Rasco - Heat Seeking
Rezidue - Droppin Rezidue

Saafir - I'm Saafir (The Saucy Nomad)
I image some west coast G-Funk producer left his studio door open by accident, then a drunken MC walked in and recorded some fucked up vocals over the beat as a joke. Yet it worked out even nicer than any gangsta rapper could have done it.

Sach - Poetical Me
One part of The Nonce group, Nouka Basetype, now known as Sach, has dropped a cassette only album, with really dope cuts on it. On this track you can check how poetical he can be.

Scaramanga - Holdin' New Cards

Seagram - Sleepin In My Nikes feat. Scarface
This is such a creepy track as it starts with Scarface reminding us that Seagram Miller is no longer alive, so I automatically imagine Seagram in a coffin with his nikes on. I truly think this is the coldest track in hiphop history.

Self Scientific - Degrees
Oh man, this beat was truly next level and would probably be revered by
other 'trippy' types of genres, if they only knew. Chase Infinite truly drops
degrees here, well after it was the 'cool' thing to do.

Shamus - Tight Team
New York's obscure artist has released his first and only album, EP style. A very dark and obscure release. Two tracks, including this one were produced by Buckwild.

Slick Rick - King Piece In The Chess Game
Unfairly overlooked and underrated gem from Ricky D's "Art Of Storytelling" album. The fact that this joint was originally released on white-label under the name "Panties Stay Wet" should be enough reason for you to listen.

Souls Of Mischief - Shooting Stars
Opio catches wreck over a most unorthodox beat, getting great mileage out of his extended metaphor and devoting the last verse to clowning Chino XL

Spice 1 - Suckas Do What They Can Real Playas feat. Yukmouth, Too Short & Rouger Troutman

Storm The Unpredictable - MC's Be Killin Me
Oxon Hill's greatest rapper of all-time? Boom-Bap lyrically lyrical shit that you just don't find today. Storm was that dude.

Street Smartz - Don't Trust Anyone
Buckwild laced a smooth melodic beat backed up by F.T rugged flow. DJ KO scratches the line "Ain't No One We Can Trust" from Onyx's Evil Streets for the chorus.

T Love - I'm Coming
A Kid Called Miles lays down a murky, funky banger for the West Coast femcee, off of her extremely underrated debut EP.

Tasc 4orce - Root Of All Evil
Thrust - Emcee
Tony Da Skitzo - Let's Drift

Ugly Duckling - Einstein's Takin' Off
Einstein leaves his physics on the side and starts his theoretical work on SP 1200.

Voodu - Introduction
Western Hemisfear rapper and producer brings to you the darkest introductio from his dark regions.

Wee Bee Foolish - The Kid

Witchdoctor, Khujo, & T-Mo Goodie - Smooth Shit
A true gem from one of the Dungeon Family's most prolific yet ignored talents. The title alone tells you what to expect, so just kick back and vibe to the Witchdoctor's unique blend of spirituality, smoke, and sex.

Wu-Syndicate - Where Was Heaven
All That I Got Is You Pt.2", Mylanski talks about his young life growing up in the VA projects.

Yah Supreme - Old & Wise
Not enough can be said of this emcee who disappeared as quick as he emerged. In a class of his own, style similar to none, this song is a perfect intro to his music and a gem you should never forget.

Young Lay - Got 2 Survive feat. Mac Mall, Ray Luv & 2Pac

Underrated producer Khayree and his label Young Black Brotha Records deliever another Bay Area collabo that leaves you missing this very sound is missed today.

[Download Part IV here]

100 Tracks You Need To Hear (97-99) Part III

The T.R.O.Y. Blog Presents
100 Tracks You Need To Hear Part III

1997-1999. You swear it wasn’t that long ago, but you know it might as well have been eons ago. Depending on your outlook, this is either the tail end of a gilded age or the beginning of the apocalypse. During this time, the hip hop artists born circa 1970 who catapulted the genre forward as teenagers and young adults in the ’87-’94 heyday are beginning to mellow out or gloss it up. Sampling laws are enforced more than ever but the indie labels are resolute in refusing to go the glittery route. Radio is dominated by obvious samples and tales of upward mobility and debauchery, while the underground mixshows stay saturated with eccentric rhyming clinics and surreal poetics. The divide is not entirely clean, however. In this era you can find surreal poets waxing profound on diamonds and champagne, gritty crime narratives on major label releases, and a whole host of songs that defy categorization (and a few that even defy simple explanation). This series is for those of you who know that the late ‘90s is deeper than just Organized Konfusion, Ras Kass, Mase, Nas, and Company Flow (no disrespect intended of course). This is for those of you that know that great hip hop comes from all corners of the USA and around the world, that the b-sides of overlooked 12”s and the album cuts of long forgotten tapes contain true gems. Songs that speak to our hunger for dope beats and lyrics and manage to stand out from the crowd. We made a special effort to seek out songs that you probably haven’t heard or don’t really remember too clearly, while making sure that each selection hearkens backs to the last era in which musical diversity and quality could be taken for granted. You need to hear this. Enjoy our 100 picks, coming at you at the rate of twenty five per day just in time for the holidays.

Ill Advised - Mic-Adelphia
Straight from the Quake City valuts boasting a Sadat X sample and Illadelph swag.

Jedi Son of Spock & Yeshua dapoED - Spitmode
Classic late 90’s indie flava from Yesh’s ill-named protégé. The two display some amazing back-and-forth chemistry, trading verses like water over dapoED’s organic production.

Killarmy - Allah Sees Everything

Kool DJ EQ - Three Emcees feat. Casual, DEL & Xzibit
An unusual combo that works wonders.

Kool Keith - Plastic World
"Payola scams switched DJ’s like a rubber band. Everybody clear with beats trying to be Premier..."

K-Otix - Do You Wanna Be An Emcee? feat. DJ Jazzy Jeff
Texas meets Philly and asks the most common rap question.

La The Darkman - Az The World Turnz feat. Raekwon

Last Emperor - Echo Leader
Last Emp gets down for the dorks. Pop culture references abound amidst the crunching instrumental on this ’98 banger.

Living Legends - Hip Hop
Lords of the Underground - Retaliate
L'Roneous da Versifier - L'chemy

Mac Dre - Rapper Gone Bad
Fools who think Ronald Dregan could only rap about ecstasy pills and going dumb are about to get wig-flipped. While Dre is no Rakim, he proves he can easily hold his own on the centerpiece from his 1999 album of the same name. Yadadi?

Mike Zoot - The Turn Pt. 2 feat. Royal Flush
Moodswingaz - Musslin

Mountain Brothers - Thoroughbred
Styles, Peril-L & CHOPS over funky basslines break down their throughness lifting a Posdnous line from "Stakes Is High."

Mr. Live & Tony Bones - Splashin' Over Monica
Goofy platter from one of rap’s most underrated duos. Funky enough…for a state dinner? Echo Leader thinks so.

Murs - All Day
When Nick Carter was just having fun, sampling De La Soul and would drop lines like "on Monday nights I watch RAW (WWF) and Ally McBeal.

Neek The Exotic - Exotic Is Raw
This is Neek's first solo record from 98'. Still down' with Large Pro, Extra P gives him one of his best head-nodding signature beat. Neek truly shows his rawness on the mic.

No I.D. - Original Man feat. Dug Infinite
Chicago producer teamed up with his Chicago fellow, Dug Infinite, to make this very slept on album. On this track their slogan is simple: They originate, you duplicate.

Non-Phixion - How To Kill A Cop
The most prominent conspiracy theorists in rap flip Redman’s original concept to a T, trading blunts and chickenheads for Glocks and dust. Some may call it heresy, but I call it hilarity.

Outsidaz - Money Money Money
Young Zee & New Jeruz' most maligned rap crew tear up this atmospheric ode to the green. Who says that acid and rap don't mix?

People Under The Stairs - The Turndown
One of the funniest and doppest PUTS tracks. Have you ever experienced that kind of the turndown like they did?

Pep Love - Trinity
Hiero's most underrated talent flows effortlessly and revives the lost of art of rap storytelling at the same time, with a biblical twist that doesn't come off to preachy.

Planet Asia - Kalidascope
Track off Fresno's native debut release. I will quote one of his lines: "Adjust your lenses, and analyze the scenes that I wreck."

Pyro - Status Quotient
Chicago native and then-Harvard graduate student delivers a thesis on race relations and the corporate co-optation of hip hop, in rhyme form. It turns out much better than you'd expect.

[Download Part III here]

100 Tracks You Need To Hear (97-99) Part II

The T.R.O.Y. Blog Presents
100 Tracks You Need To Hear Part II

1997-1999. You swear it wasn’t that long ago, but you know it might as well have been eons ago. Depending on your outlook, this is either the tail end of a gilded age or the beginning of the apocalypse. During this time, the hip hop artists born circa 1970 who catapulted the genre forward as teenagers and young adults in the ’87-’94 heyday are beginning to mellow out or gloss it up. Sampling laws are enforced more than ever but the indie labels are resolute in refusing to go the glittery route. Radio is dominated by obvious samples and tales of upward mobility and debauchery, while the underground mixshows stay saturated with eccentric rhyming clinics and surreal poetics. The divide is not entirely clean, however. In this era you can find surreal poets waxing profound on diamonds and champagne, gritty crime narratives on major label releases, and a whole host of songs that defy categorization (and a few that even defy simple explanation). This series is for those of you who know that the late ‘90s is deeper than just Organized Konfusion, Ras Kass, Mase, Nas, and Company Flow (no disrespect intended of course). This is for those of you that know that great hip hop comes from all corners of the USA and around the world, that the b-sides of overlooked 12”s and the album cuts of long forgotten tapes contain true gems. Songs that speak to our hunger for dope beats and lyrics and manage to stand out from the crowd. We made a special effort to seek out songs that you probably haven’t heard or don’t really remember too clearly, while making sure that each selection hearkens backs to the last era in which musical diversity and quality could be taken for granted. You need to hear this. Enjoy our 100 picks, coming at you at the rate of twenty five per day just in time for the holidays.

D. Auguste - Sunset
The Bostonian emcee celebrates dusk as the time to "relax and chill" and also to "step out and build" over music that sets the mood precisely.

Da Great Deity Dah - Ready To Kill

Da Ruckus & Eminem - We Shine
Life’s a b up in the D.

Danja Mowf - Make It Hot feat. Lonnie B
Supafriendz go line-4-line over this '97 IRC favorite that you could have found in either #Dalnet, #Undernet or where Danja and Friendz would dwell, #Efnet.

Defari - Say It Twice
Evidence on another sound mission with Defair Heru deliever the goods.

Demastas - Feel No Guilt feat. Nine
Virgin Island's hip-hop crew Demastas & Nine kicks rhymes on one of the illest piano sampled beat with a classic Audio Two sample produced by Rob Lewis who also produced many of Nine's classics songs. This was their second 12" but unfortunately nothing ever followed.

Devin The Dude & K-Dee - One Day At A Time
The Dude connects with MIA Ice Cube-affiliate K-Dee to kick a message everyone can relate to. Just remember to hit 'em with the dub when you see 'em out mobbin'.


Diamond D - Flowin
If you aren't feeling this song you just weren't meant for this life.

Digital Underground - The Odd Couple (Humpty Hump and Biz Markie)
This classic mashup of the two oddest MC's in the hiphop game will forever be the closest that hiphop will come to making Rap-Stand-Up-Comedy.

Divine Styler - Before Mecca
The god released this banger, ripping it reminiscent to his earlier days,
and was able to pull it off with divine results. Sadly the album was way
under the radar and none of the beats quite lived up to this one.

DJ Shadow - Organ Donor (Extended Overhaul)
When "Endroducing" dropped in 1996, I always wished that "Organ Donor" was longer. Turns out there was an extended version on the "High Noon" single. Just took me a few years to find it.

Dres - Hi & Lo
It's strange to hear such a clever MC who always has a joke on deck get deep about the low's that he's hit as a musician. One of Dres' dopest tracks.

Equilibrium - Windows '98
Ill Bill Gates rides for Equilibrium.

Finsta Bundy - Don't Stress Tomorrow
An anthem for us who have always struggled to keep food in fridge,
it still holds weight today more than ever. But hey, don't stress tomorrow.

Fly Guy Kool Kim - Ya Gotta Know (Dolo Fly Guy Version)
Solo track from UMC member, produced by Haas G. Equally as good was the b side "Skilz R Amazing."

Foul Play - Break It Down (Maylay Sparks)
Before Rahsheed aka Maylay Sparks got down with Ill Advised he was making noise with his original crew, Foul Play.

Frankenstein - Rain Is Gone
Frank is one of Canada’s most underrated producer/MCs and this song, his ode to the backstabbers, will show you why. Lace up your boots and zip up your goose, it's about to get chilly.

Govna Mattic - Family Day feat. Redman, Tame One, Young Zee, Pace Won, Runt Dog & Roz Noble

Grouch - Once Upon A Rhyme
He's far from Rakim on the mic and he's hardly Pete Rock behind the boards. Yet somehow Grouch makes it all work, really well.

Guerilla Maab - Keep Watching Me
Z-Ro shows why heads who know still check for him in this slightly head-spinning double-time SUC exhibition.

Haiku De'Tat - Non Compos Mentis
Eschewing the abrasiveness that often characterized Freestyle Fellowship songs, Aceyalone, Ab Rude, and Mikah-9 drop mellifluous rhymes over smooth live instrumentation and the result is something transcendent yet palatable.

Handsome Boy Modeling School - The Truth feat. J-Live & Roisin Murphy
Herbaliser - 8 Pt. Agenda feat. Latryx
I-Power - Under Da Sun

Ice-T - NY NY
This track starts off with a drop by Onyx representin' NY. You already know that Ice-T represents LA all the way to NY. Marc Live gave Ice-T the perfect beat for this type of song.

[Download Pt.2 here]

100 Tracks You Need To Hear ('97-'99) Part I

The T.R.O.Y. Blog Presents
100 Tracks You Need To Hear ('97-'99) Part I

1997-1999. You swear it wasn’t that long ago, but you know it might as well have been eons ago. Depending on your outlook, this is either the tail end of a gilded age or the beginning of the apocalypse. During this time, the hip hop artists born circa 1970 who catapulted the genre forward as teenagers and young adults in the ’87-’94 heyday are beginning to mellow out or gloss it up. Sampling laws are enforced more than ever but the indie labels are resolute in refusing to go the glittery route. Radio is dominated by obvious samples and tales of upward mobility and debauchery, while the underground mixshows stay saturated with eccentric rhyming clinics and surreal poetics. The divide is not entirely clean, however. In this era you can find surreal poets waxing profound on diamonds and champagne, gritty crime narratives on major label releases, and a whole host of songs that defy categorization (and a few that even defy simple explanation). This series is for those of you who know that the late ‘90s is deeper than just Organized Konfusion, Ras Kass, Mase, Nas, and Company Flow (no disrespect intended of course). This is for those of you that know that great hip hop comes from all corners of the USA and around the world, that the b-sides of overlooked 12”s and the album cuts of long forgotten tapes contain true gems. Songs that speak to our hunger for dope beats and lyrics and manage to stand out from the crowd. We made a special effort to seek out songs that you probably haven’t heard or don’t really remember too clearly, while making sure that each selection hearkens backs to the last era in which musical diversity and quality could be taken for granted. You need to hear this. Enjoy our 100 picks, coming at you at the rate of twenty five per day just in time for the holidays.

100x - Philly Niggas International feat. Black Thought, Malik B & Rasheed Wallace
Courtesy of L.E. Square's private stash, 100x teams up with Roots Crew members and Simon Gratz stand-out and NBA's public enemy #1, Rasheed Wallace.

2Rude - Innovations feat. Saukrates & Pharaohe Monch

3X Krazy - Keep It On The Real
Bay Area heads will no doubt recognize this classic track from the trio’s “Stackin’ Chips” album. Ethereal Oaktown madness.

Above the Law - Deep Az The Root
Although they are better known for living like hustlers, this acoustic guitar-laced track renders homage to the sadder events that have made them stronger. The chorus ask "Everyday is an episode, can you handle the load?"

Aceyalone & Abstract Rude - Me & My Main

Adagio - The Break
Consisting of Big Cousin "The Obvious Wonder" and Reign Supreme, Adagio repped hard between Uptown and Philly. Their signature ill smoothed out approach to beats is evident here and Reign Supreme's mic demolition is in full swing. They were down with the Juggaknots, nuff said.

Agallah - Crookie Monster
What do you get when you cross a beloved Muppet and one of the Alchemist’s illest beats? That’s that Crookie, duns.

All City - Afta Hourz
Better check how they do it or you can get robbed blind quick before you can blink.

All Natural - Writer's Block
Capital D draws the listener into his fictional world and tells a story we can all relate to.

Arsonists - Fat Laces
The Bushwick crew eschew their usually obstreperous deliveries for a much smoother approach on the mic, and it works wonders.

B-1 - Life We Lead
Bee Why - Come Up

Big Kwam - The Reunion
I swear I can hear a faint trace of Minnie Riperton howling in the background of this. Kind of a Natural Elements influenced duo, they both tear it down back and forth. Ring The Alarm!

Binary Star - Evolution Of Man
Pontiac, Michigan duo, brought to us an excellent underground record with some pure gems on it, similar like this one here.

BQE - Last Messiah
Brainsick Enterprize - Time To Shine

Brick City Kids - What What
Recorded under the BCK alias in order to avoid contract violation, El Da Sensei and Tame One flip rugged braggadocio over some Ghetto Pros heat. Classic ‘Facts, undeniably Jerz.

Burnt Batch - Temptation
The Stockton, CA crew narrates cautionary tales of lust, crime, and deception over a shimmering Crusaders sample.

Camp Lo - Black Nostaljack (Remix) feat. Kid Capri and Run
Capone-N-Noreaga - Closer (Sam Sneed Version)

C-Bo - Money By The Ton
Math lessons from the gas chamber.

Chubb Rock - The Mind
CNN - Bloody Money Part IV (Remix) feat. Nas

It's not mentioned anywhere, but there is a (recycled?) verse from Big L in here. And I believe this was only released on some bootleg vinyl.

Connecticut Cartel - All Out (97)
Cru - Nothin' But feat. Black Rob

Download Part I

The Bridge is NOT Over pt. 1

This is not a collection of hip hop instrumentals. It isn't a collection of beats with played instruments like De La Soul's "I Be Blowin", nor will you hear sample-rich beats with layered pieces meshing harmoniously like the Cunnylinguists perfectly executed Remember Me [Abstract Reality]. None of these work alone. They are part of the song, "musical bridges" that usually join two halves of songs.


I'll start this off chronologically(and then proceed to completely lose respect for father time).

1. RUN DMC - RAGTIME

Run DMC were pretty much breaking ground with each song they made on their first three albums, sometimes to amazing success. On the other hand they tried a few experiments that didn't even dent hiphop's history. Mixing hiphop with a Big Band sound was one of those. After hearing "Ragtime" though, I personally would not mind hearing more of these experiments ;)





2. DIGITAL UNDERGROUND - NUTTIN NIS FUNKY

Although "Same Song" would fit MUCH better in this compilation of instruments wildin' out over hiphop tracks, I fuckin' hate the organ sound they used on that track. Instead, "Nuttin Nis Funky" provides a great slow galloping beat for a very hiphop-ish instrument to freestyle with tranquility: The turntable. DJ Fuze is by far my favorite DJ, so I place this track on a pedestal with a plaque under it that says "DJ's: You Will NEVER Make Nuttin Nis Funky".





3. BRAND NUBIAN - CLAIMIN' I'M A CRIMINAL

One thing I would never have expected was Brand Nubian + acoustic guitar solos...





4. DJ QUIK - ONLY FOR THE MONEY

Dj Quik showed you how classy and musical he could be on his second album "Way II Fonky". In between his gangbangs, his late nite pimpin' and his soulglo-spraying, he managed to find time to really add to his tracks with instruments.




5. MC EIHT - STREIHT UP MENACE

And now for his one time biggest enemy, MC Eiht. Yup no G, just like Quik said "you aint got no G in you". When I heard "Streiht Up Menace", I figured that this would be the sound of his first solo album. I was wrong.



6. TOO SHORT - ONLY THE STRONGEST SURVIVE

Also on the Menace II Society album, we have a Too Short track, produced by the Dangerous Crew who have more than earned their bragging rights with their talented musicians to add mad depth to their tracks. Did that just read bork bork? Sorry let's let the music speak for itself!





7. D-NICE - STRAIGHT FROM THE BRONX

With his sophomore album "To The Rescue", he pulled a Kool G Rap on us with this track. They are the same in the respect that they both utilize fake instruments played by keyboards, in this both cases being a cheesy casio-sounding saxophone.





8. KOOL G RAP - STREETS OF NY

And now for the original 5-cent sound of that jazz musician trying to impress you for some change. With those minor piano chords, I'm impressed, here's 10 dollars, buy yerself a flask of moonshine.






9. EAZY-E - EAZY STREET

All Eazy E fans know that he's probably funnier than he is a cold hearted killer and this freestyle "skat" leaves NO doubt behind.





10. FREESTYLE FELLOWSHIP - INNERCITY BOUNDARIES

South Central, LA, home to another gang-riddled area, gave birth to another hiphop act influenced by jazz-skatting: Freestyle Fellowship. This Daddy-O produced track (crazy huh?) lifted the whole album by 100 cool points when he made the four MC's flow over this all-instrument played track.




11. GOLD MONEY - NOTHING

I was just mentioning this album in the Pee Wee post I did. It's the longest in this list at 3:41, and it's also the most unique. I say this because it's obviously jazz, but its got this funky backbone that makes your head bop hard. The drums are tremendously Digital Underground, and make you realize that, yes, they had their clappin-snappin sound 15 years before it got overused ad-nauseam in so many 2000ish hit songs.

I have more to come, but if anyone can help me identify more of these, I would love to actually blend these together in the future.

Zigg Zagg? (Priority, 1994)

No, not the pasty, sickly looking broad who is associated with Brother Lynch Hung.

This is a group that was signed to Priority Records in 1994. Two of their tracks appeared on Priority samplers around that time with promises of a forthcoming LP titled Touch The Sun that never saw the light of day (no pun intended).

Kevin Beacham was kind enough to upload the two cuts "All In Your Mind" and "On and On" into a single file for your convenience: http://rapidshare.com/files/308152807/Zigg_Zagg.zip

You can preview these tracks via YouTube. You will notice that these songs are both really dope, with hard production and nimble rhyming reminiscent of something DJ Mark the 45 King might've been involved with - but there really is little to no information about the group or its music anywhere.

If you have any information on the group or the shelved LP, hit us up!

-- Thun

James Brown - Samples Volume 3 & 4

Rounds 3 and 4 from Roy Johnson, over at Scratch Reaction, as he continues his James Brown month. Check out 1 and 2, either here or there, or get down with the T.R.O.Y. forum. You won't regret it.

James Brown - Samples Volume 3

1. James Brown - Ain't It Funky Now (1969)
2. Mysterme - Unsolved Mysterme (Instrumental)
3. Kev-E-Kev - Listen To The Man
4. Black, Rock & Ron - My Hometown
5. Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies
6. Afrika Zulu Kings - Cars (Instrumental)
7. James Brown - Nose Job (1969)
8. Gang Starr - What You Want This Time
9. BDP - The Racist
10. James Brown - The Chicken (1969)
11. Main Source - Think
12. Big Daddy Kane - Calling Mr. Welfare
13. James Brown - In The Middle (1969)
14. Chubb Rock - The Organizer
15. James Brown - Soul Pride (1969)
16. Craig G - Ripped To Streads
17. Digable Planets - 9th Wonder
18. James Brown - Why Am I Treated So Bad (1969)
19. The Associates - From The Ground Up (Instrumental)

Download Vol.3 here.

Previews:

James Brown - Ain't It Funky Now (1969)

James Brown - Nose Job (1969)

James Brown - Soul Pride (1969)

Producer Info:

Mysterme - Unsolved Mysterme (Produced by Joe Quixx)
Kev-E-Kev - Listen To The Man (Produced by Paul C & Ak-B)
Black, Rock & Ron - My Hometown (Produced by Paul C & BRR)
Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies (Produced by The Dust Brothers)
Afrika Zulu Kings - Cars (Produced by Afrika Islam)
Gang Starr - What You Want This Time (Produced by DJ Premier)
BDP - The Racist (Produced by Krs-One)
Main Source - Think (Produced by Paul C & The Large Professor)
Big Daddy Kane - Calling Mr. Welfare (Produced by Easy Mo Bee)
Chubb Rock - The Organizer (Produced by Howie Tee)
Craig G - Ripped To Streads (Produced by Marley Marl)
Digable Planets - 9th Wonder (Produced by The Digable Planets)
The Associates - From The Ground Up (Produced by Rhettmatic)

James Brown - Samples Volume 4

1. James Brown - There Was A Time (1969)
2. Chubb Rock - Treat 'Em Right
3. James Brown - There Was A Time II (1969)
4. Downtown Science - Keep It On
5. James Brown - The Little Groove Maker Pt. I (1969)
6. De La Soul - Me Myself And I (Oblapos Mode)
7. James Brown - Mother Popcorn Pt. I (1969)
8. Doug E Fresh - On The Strength
9. James Brown - Popcorn With A Feeling (1969)
10. Brand Nubian - Who Can Get Busy Like This Man
11. James Brown - You Got To Have A Mother For Me (1969)
12. Schoolly D - Gangster Boogie
13. Bizzie Boys - Say When
14. LL Cool J - Why Do You Think They Call It Dope
15. James Brown - Baby, Here I Come (1969)
16. EPMD - The Big Payback
17. James Brown - Lowdown Popcorn (1969)
18. Organized Konfusion - Audience Pleasers Demo

Download Vol.4 here.

Previews:

James Brown - There Was A Time (1969)

James Brown - The Little Groove Maker Pt. I (1969)

James Brown - Mother Popcorn Pt. I (1969)

Producer Info:
Chubb Rock - Treat 'Em Right (Produced by Howie Tee)
Downtown Science - Keep It On (Produced by Sam Sever)
De La Soul - Me Myself And I Remix (Produced by Prince Paul)
Doug E Fresh - On The Strength (Produced by The Bomb Squad)
Brand Nubian - Who Can Get Busy... (Produced by Brand Nubian)
Schoolly D - Gangster Boogie (Produced by Schoolly D)
Bizzie Boys - Say When (Produced by Jamal-Ski)
LL Cool J - Why Do You Think... (Produced by LL Cool J)
EPMD - The Big Payback (Produced by EPMD)
Organized Konfusion - Audience Pleasers Demo (Produced by Paul C)

Peace and props to Roy Johnson.

--Verge

Touring The States: Birmingham, AL

4-2 Tha Dome is a duo, consists of G-Money & Mr. Tre-8.
Producer of the album was P.D. aka Pump Dog.
Album is short, only 5 tracks, but it perfectly representing you street life in the city of Birmingham and how this duo struggling and surviving on those streets, dealing with crooked policemen etc.
Check it yourself and we will hope that you will like it.

4-2 Tha Dome - Blame It On Society (1995)

01. Intro & 2 Glocks

02. Lesson 1
03. Blame It On Society
04. One In The Chamber
05. Laws Get Me Pausing

Preview:


DOWNLOAD

--Markshot

MC Shan - Feed The World (1985)

"You got dropped off MCA cause the rhymes you wrote was wack..." KRS-One

Here's MC Shan debut record on MCA Records in 1985. This is Shan's first and only major-label release. Marley Marl is the producer. MC Shan would later get dropped from the label. KRS-One mentiones it when he disses Shan on BDP's "South Bronx".

This was ripped directly from my vinyl, I haven't seen it on any blogs even though it's actually a collectible record!

Download

-- Thomas V