J-Treds - Freestyle Spotlight

I've always thought of J-Treds as one of the most underrated MCs from the late 90s NY hip hop scene. Not only did he rip shit on his solo releases and all of the Indelibles tracks, but he also blessed a good number of radio shows and mixtape DJs with top notch pre-written, improvisational freestyles.

I've assembled nine of his dopest radio show/mixtape appearances from the late 90s/early 00s. If you have a freestyle that isn't listed here, please hit us up in the comments section. Also, if anyone has a picture of him, post a link. I have absolutely no idea what dude looks like, even though I probably have just about everything in his known discography.

First up, a 15 minute Night Train freestyle session. J simply murders this shit:

Night Train Freestyle Session

http://www.divshare.com/download/7505713-856

Next, a 7 minute freestyle session with the Juggaknots:

Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle Session

http://www.divshare.com/download/7506026-2b2

Some more Stretch & Bobbito segments:

J-Treds & Company Flow - Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle #1 (5 Minutes)

http://www.divshare.com/download/7506024-55a

J-Treds & Company Flow - Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle #2

http://www.divshare.com/download/7506025-ccd

J-Treds - Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle

http://www.divshare.com/download/7506023-aed

Here's some miscellaneous shit that came from freestyle sessions. I isolated the J-Treds segments.

Eddie Ill & DL Freestyle #1

http://www.divshare.com/download/7512074-743

Eddie Ill & DL Freestyle #2

http://www.divshare.com/download/7512075-078

Lyricist Lounge Freestyle

http://www.divshare.com/download/7512076-d91

Unknown & Mek Freestyle

http://www.divshare.com/download/7512077-503

--Roy Johnson

Who Flipped It Better? Company Flow, Parallax, Lord Digga?

Yes, I know these aren't the only tracks to sample this Bob James cut, but they are the focus of the day. The first time I heard this used was on one of my favorite obscure 12 inches, Parallax "Bleeding Hate". It felt like such a perfect, vibe out, meaningful beat. Then, I heard theCompany Flow usage for "Juvenile Techniques", which I thought was incredible at the time. I really dig the whistling sample in Co Flow's version and the overall vibe to it.

Anyway, fast forward to around 2002. So, I'm visiting my father in some godforsaken town in Wisconsin and I'm bored to death. I brought my MPC, but obviously couldn't bring crates of vinyl with me. What I did manage to lug along was a bunch of CDs. One of them was Bob James Two, which contains the original song sampled for these cuts. So, I figured why not do my own rendition of this sample. I liked the way two separate bass pieces sounded , so I let them play at the same time and I think it came off nice. Check it out with the rest below, labelled Verge - Parallaxin'. Feel free to leave your thoughts on this in the comments section.

Fast forward to 2008. I join the T.R.O.Y. forum and soon learn that this song has been sampled to death. Other than myself, Company Flow, and Parallax sampling this, we also have:

Shyheim & Gp Wu used the bass line to great effect for Let's Go To Lap. I think I hear a little bit of  "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" on there, too. 

Almighty Arrogant used the sample for Arrogant SOB. This is from an unreleased demo tape excavated by Kev Beacham. Very, very ill shit right here. It sounds like they used a piece from the same part that Parallax used, except with an extra sample in there.

Miilkbone's track, Mind Gamez',  uses one of the sections that I used. Not a bad working at all.

Lord Digga has one of my favorite flips of this sample on Take The Cake. This was off the unreleased High Plains Drifter EP that finally saw the light of day thanks to One Leg Up Records[only 200 copies were pressed]. Peep their pretty thorough interview with the Diggaman here.

Kaotic Sypher used it for Tight Situation, off of his first album One Million Strong. I don't know much about this cat or his crew, but you can check his discog here. Dope rhymes over tight production is all I can really say.

Previews: 

Bob James - I Feel A Song (In My Heart)

Parallax - Bleeding Hate

Company Flow - Juvenile Techniques

Shyheim & Gp Wu - Let's Go To Lap

Almighty Arrogant - Arrogant SOB

Miilkbone - Mindgamez

Lord Digga - Take The Cake

Kaotic Sypher - Tight Situation

Verge - Parallaxin'

Download this whole collection here.

I'm still torn between Parallax, Lord Digga, and Company Flow. Let us know who you think did best flipping the sample in the comments. This doesn't mean it has to be your favorite song out of the bunch, just the best beat.

--Verge