T.R.O.Y.

Zigg Zagg? (Priority, 1994)

2009-12-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

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

2009-12-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

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

2009-12-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

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)

2009-12-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

"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

Universal Beats 1990-2001

2009-12-16T09:00:00.001-05:00

Dope production is not limited to any one area as these compilations show. Yes production styles change from region to region but an ear for music is something anyone can appreciate, regardless of where they're from. I had been thinking about instrumentals after I put together a mostly east coast break beats compilation sometime last winter. Here is a link and the tracklist to that one.

mostly east coast breakbeats--
01 (3:35) Jeep Beat Collective - Scream (Boomsday Of Rap) 1995
02 (4:21) Dontay Prezentz - No No No! 1994
03 (4:14) Dj Spinna & Nkansa - Check It Out 1994
04 (5:01) The Herbaliser - Up 4 The Get Downs 1995
05 (3:20) Redrum Breakbeats - Da Man 1993
06 (4:09) Crooklyn Clan - This DJ (Orginal Mix) 1993
07 (2:17) Jeep Beat Society - Na Naa Naaa (East Coast Breaker) 1994
08 (0:26) Wreck All Stars - Hit Em Like This 1994
09 (5:52) Rusty Killa Productions - Hipnotic Realism 1994
10 (4:33) Frankie The Pacemaker - Big Up (Six Shot Mix) 1993
11 (2:22) The Herbaliser - Da Trax 1995
12 (2:44) Jeep Beat Collective - Hip Hop Hate Pt4 1995
13 (2:31) Jeep Beat Society - Reggae Muffin Style'N 1994
14 (3:56) Redrum Breakbeats - Here We Go 1993
15 (2:20) Brooklyn Slumlordz - Nobody (Beats) 1993
16 (0:36) Dontay Prezentz - Tay Skit 1994
17 (3:08) Dj Fashion - My Peoples 1995
18 (3:08) Dj Spinna & Nkansa - Tear It Up Y'all 1994
19 (3:52) Dontay Prezentz - Drumz Of Passion 1994
20 (4:26) Redrum Breakbeats - Blue Note Take Three 1993
21 (4:20) Rek Shot Rebulz - Full Moon Drama 1994
22 (3:00) Frankie The Pacemaker - Get Lifted 1993
23 (1:37) Jeep Beat Society - Hey Mr Dj (Bonus Beat) 1994
24 (2:26) Brooklyn Slumlordz - Some Ol' Party Beatz 1993

Download here.

'Full Moon Drama' is something I heard on the radio when it came out. I fiended to own this lp for years. If anyone out there can tell me exactly who's on this track I'd love to know. Anyway, Jeep Beat Collective and The Herbaliser are from the UK but everything else there is east coast. Sometimes though what I like best about hip hop from the west coast, south, or midwest for example, are the beats. In homage to beatsmiths everywhere, I offer up these 3 instrumental compilations to you. Here are the links and tracklists.

Universal Beats Volume 1--
01 (4:52) The Herbaliser - Battle Of Bongo Hill (UK 199?)
02 (0:48) Public Enemy - Final Count Of The Collision Between Us And The Damned (NY 1990)
03 (3:48) Mumbles - The Guidelines (Los Angeles 1994)
04 (4:28) Hieroglyphics - The Who (Del Instrumental) (Bay Area 1997)
05 (4:25) Mama Mystique - Tremendous (Dub Mix) (Philadelphia ? 1996)
06 (3:08) Dj Fashion - My Peoples (New York 1994)
07 (1:58) Dj Vinylfiend - Dig This (UK 199?)
08 (4:24) Dj Cam - Gangsta Shit (France 1995)
09 (4:31) Beat Detective - Chops (Salt Lake City 2001)
10 (4:46) Anomaly - Back Pressure (Minnesota 1998)
11 (2:29) Analyst - Dark Mood (Sacramento 2000)
12 (2:08) Vakill - Final Thoughts (Instrumental) (Chicago 1997)
13 (3:57) Just Ro - Confusion (Instrumental) (Chicago 1996)
14 (3:26) DJ Thief - Movin On (Thiefs Theme) (Wisconsin 1997)
15 (3:24) Fat Jack - Beat 2 (Los Angeles 1998)
16 (4:13) Primeridian - Jigsaw (Instrumental) (Chicago 1997)
17 (2:21) Lokee - Mr. Groove (New Orleans 1995)
18 (3:25) Geetas - D. Inst (Bay Area 1993)
19 (4:05) Nex To Kin - When It All Started (Slick Mix Instrumental) (Maryland 1997)
20 (3:27) Chunk - Dying Black Race (Instrumental) (Bay Area 1992)
21 (7:31) Outkast - Git Up Git Down (Instrumental) (Atlanta 1994)

Download Vol.1 here

Universal Beats Volume 2--
01 (3:34) African Identity - Slap Me Five (Instrumental) (Bay Area 1992)
02 (4:39) Xgovernment - Madina (East Coast Instrumental) (Virginia 1994)
03 (3:51) I.B.P. - Get 'M Up (Ice Man Dub) (New York 1993)
04 (5:06) High Performance And The 23rd - You Cant Fuck With It (Instrumental) (Seattle 1993)
05 (3:53) Common Sense - Take It EZ (Jazz Instrumental) (Chicago 1992)
06 (6:19) The Pope - Pope Of The Hood (Dub From Above Mix) (New York 1992)
07 (3:53) T-Max - Executioner Style (Remix Instrumental) (Boston 1996)
08 (2:55) Jeep Beat Society - Hoo... Call (Break Beat) (New Jersey 1994)
09 (4:36) Gumbo - Basement Music (Milwaukee Instrumental) (Wisconsin 1993)
10 (1:18) Demon And The Knomadz - Bonus Beat (Chicago 1998)
11 (3:48) Hyperdermic Needlz - Always (Instrumental) (Conneticut 1994)
12 (4:01) T Dub - T Dub Vs The Weed (Virginia 1997)
13 (3:08) Analyst - Clouds (Sacramento 1999)
14 (3:05) Funkghost - Tampa International (Instrumental) (Tampa 1999)
15 (4:27) Anomaly - Intricacies (Minnesota 1998)
16 (2:03) All Natural - Drug Wars (Instrumental) (Chicago 1997)
17 (4:27) Threatt II Society - Lynch - Tro - Mental (Tampa 1994)
18 (4:16) Kronic - It Beez Like That (Prod. By Eric Sermon) (Atlanta 1994)
19 (1:37) Ray Luv - Outro Instrumental (Bay Area 1992)

Download Vol.2 here.

Universal Beats Volume 3--
01 (4:12) Raheim - Life After Hip Hop (Instrumental) (Florida 1997)
02 (2:05) King Tee - Free Style Ghetto (Instrumental) (California 1995)
03 (3:08) E.C. Illa - All Night (Chicago IL 1997)
04 (3:54) Funkghost - Tampa International Remix (Inst) (Florida 1999)
05 (2:57) Da Phathedz - Mind Of A Thinker (New York 1996)
06 (2:30) Frankenstein - The Filter (New York 1994)
07 (2:01) Spliff - Devils Advocate (Instrumental) (Denver 1995)
08 (1:20) The Rza - Samurai Theme (New York 1999)
09 (4:11) Live And Die Reck - Boom, It's The Bonus (New York 1993)
10 (4:16) Kenny Dope - That Gangsta Shit (New York 1994)
11 (2:14) Jeep Beat Society - Here We Go (New Jersey 1993)
12 (3:32) DJ Fashion - Keep That Ass Clappin' (Instrumental) (New York 1995)
13 (3:25) Butta Fingaz - Five Boroughs (New York 1996)
14 (3:08) Dj Spinna & Nkansa - Tear It Up Y'all (New York 1994)
15 (5:47) Rhyme Poets - Roadblock (Illinois 1993)
16 (5:57) The Deckwrecka (With Mad Money Wah) - Rice Cakes (New York 1996)
17 (3:44) Gripsta - Pop Goz The 9 (Instrumental) (California 1994)
18 (5:35) Kobie Dee & Tha Deeluh - Ole' Ge (Instrumental) (Ohio 1995)
19 (0:55) Young LaRai - Egypt (Instrumental) (Portland OR 1997)

Download Vol.3 here.

If you're paying attention you'll notice track 5 on volume 3 here is the same beat as 'Kay Superior - Focus', which is on that cd I posted called 'On The Down Low'. If you slept make sure to check it out too.

http://philaflava.blogspot.com/2009/04/various-artists-on-down-low-new-york.html

Your head should be noddin' for awhile. Please leave some comments, let me know if you like this idea and I'll put together a few more volumes. Enjoy!

--Schenectadyfan

Random VLS Drops: Percee P - Nowhere Near Simple

2009-12-16T03:10:00.002-05:00

Another fresh 320kbps random vinyl rip for the fam

A1 Nowhere Near Simple(Clean Edit)

A2 Nowhere Near Simple(Street Mix)

A3 Nowhere Near Simple (Instr.)

B1 Don't Cum Strapped(Street Mix)

B2 Don't Cum Strapped(Instr.)

Download here.

Preview:

Just adding on to the last post that Thomas V graciously blessed us with here. I just happened to have ripped this vinyl to mp3 about a week or two ago, and this seems as appropriate a time as ever to share it with the T.R.O.Y. fam and followers.

Percee P needs no introduction if you're a regular around here. I can't front, this record damn near blew my mind the first time I heard it on the Stretch and Bobbito show. Not just his lyrical miracles with the unorthodox rhyme flex, but finessing that line from Group Home into a dope hook is what always got me.

Enough blithering already. Download and enjoy this record.

--Verge

Percee P - Live @Fat Beats LA 12.12.09

2009-12-15T09:00:00.007-05:00

Percee P performs in-store live @Fat Beats LA on December 12,2009 doing a free show for the true hip hop heads. It was raining hard that day in LA but a lot of fans still came through to check it out. I gotta say that this was definitely a perfect performance. Percee P performed his best tracks and dropped knowledge for the fans. This man is a real legend! The Legendary Percee P!

Percee P performs Man To Praise off Perseverance.

Percee P talks about being around with Lord Finesse, DMX, Eminem, & Fat Joe.

Percee P performs Ghetto Rhyme Stories Remix off Perseverance: The Remix.

Percee P performs The Lady Behind Me Remix off Perseverance: The Remix.

Percee P spits one of his favorite rhyme acapella.

Percee P spits his two classic verses from Lord Finesse's Return of The Funkyman album. Don't forget he earned the hip-hop quotable in The Source for Yes You May. Hear him talk about it.

Percee P spits one last acapella.

Percee P talks about The Almighty KG from the Cold Crush Brothers and B-Boy Records(Scott La Rock, KRS-One).

Buy Percee P's catalog @FatBeats.com

The opening performance was probably the best I have ever seen. Check out "All In" from Versis. I had never been impressed by an opening performance like that.

-- Thomas V

LL Cool J: Respect The Architect

2009-12-14T09:00:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you just gotta give it up for LL. Yeah he hasn't made the most memorable albums in the past 15 years but he is still making music. He gave us Radio, Bigger And Deffer, Walking With A Panther (my fav), Mama Said Knock You Out, 14 Shots To The Dome and Mr. Smith to name a few. Since them he's sprinkled us with some vintage LL, like "Ill Bomb."

LL, at age 41, still has it. He doesn't flex it like he can but if push came to shove LL could definitely retire a rapper of choice should he feel inclined to. While I can't validate whether or not this is a real album or that LL will even see a dime on it, I can say they are high quality (remastered) tracks of some of his greatest cuts. Even though we all could do without a handful (or even more) of some of them, the great tracks certainly overpower the weak ones. Download this jawn and remember just how vicious LL Cool J was on the mic. Hey Rick Rubin if you're reading this why not hit up James Todd Smith and do another album together? Go out on the right note. --Philaflava

LL Cool J: All World 2

01. Rock The Bells (Produced By Rick Rubin)
02. Dear Yvette (Produced By Rick Rubin)
03. I'm That Type Of Guy (Produced By LL Cool J)
04. Big Ole Butt (Produced By LL Cool J)
05. Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings (Produced By Marley Marl)
06. Around The Way Girl (Produced By Marley Marl)
07. Jack The Ripper (Produced By Rick Rubin)
08. To Da Break Of Dawn (Produced By Marley Marl)
09. I Shot Ya (Feat. Fat Joe, Foxy Brown, Keith Murray & Prodigy)(Produced By Poke & Tone)
10. Ill Bomb (Feat. Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap) (Produced By DJ Scratch)
11. Phenomenon (Produced By Diddy)
12. 4, 3, 2, 1, (Feat. Redman, Method Man & DMX) (Remix) (Produced By Erick Sermon)
13. Luv U Better (Produced By The Neptunes)
14. Paradise (Feat. Amerie) (Produced By Poke & Tone)
15. Headsprung (Produced By Timbaland)
16. Hush (Feat. 7 Aurelius) (Produced By 7)
17. Baby (Feat. The-Dream) (Produced By C. "Tricky" Stewart & The-Dream)

Download

Recap: Early December

2009-12-13T22:15:00.003-05:00

Yo! Take a winter break and listen to some rap!

It's December and that means holiday season stress. But don't hibernate on the T.R.O.Y. blog, your only connection to escape from these rough and rugged times.

King Sun "Strictly Ghetto" EP

Midwest Series Volume 2

Produce-A-Lot

James Brown Samples - Volume 1

The Bomb DJs - Return Of The DJs Volume 1

James Brown Samples - Volume 2

Random VLS Drops

Touring The States: San Fransisco, CA

Wyandanche High School Jam '85 - early Rakim and Biz Markie

Various Artists - "Balance"

USC Hip Hop NYC Real Deal Underground

Pete Nice: Rags To Riches

Producer Highlight: Pee Wee

New Jersey Underground Part 8

Stay tuned!

The Basement Khemist

2009-12-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Over at the forums, contributor Mr. J Selectah is an enthusiastic and generous fan of great 90s indie hip hop, always uploading rare treats for us to forage. Although he's quite knowledgeable he is also humble enough to to ask his fellow T.R.O.Y. denizens to help him out when he's stumped. It's this kind of symbiotic relationship that makes out forum a great place to visit for rap fiends. Recently, he posted a thread full of advanced level questions, many of which remain unanswered.

One of the questions that stood out to me was whether or not The Basement Khemist (or "Basement Khemists" depending on who you ask) ever released tracks aside from the ones that appeared on a five track bootleg in late 90s. Selectah was kind enough to provide us with divshare uploads of these songs, and Roy Johnson upped a glitch-free version of "Petrified":

Basement Khemists - Vibrate

Basement Khemists - Petrified

Basement Khemists - Everybody

Basement Khemists - I'm doin' ya

Basement Khemists - Correct technique

So does anyone have any leads? We know from other internet sources that "Vibrate" was released on vinyl but what else, if anything is out there? Anybody? Bueller?

-- Thun

New Jersey Underground Part 8

2009-12-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

Comin' at ya today with volume 8 from my New Jersey series. Getting off to a fresh start we have one of the best cuts on the Double X Posse album from 1995. I know I might get some flack for this but I actually prefer that one to their 1992 album. As often happens, a few tracks featured here are from different places other than New Jersey. I always find this stuff out later. For example I put this compilation together on 11/3/2007, but it was not until last year sometime that I found some of the locations are wrong. Oh well, hope y'all will forgive me. I swear, the person who makes a comprehensive encyclopedia of where hip hop artists are from is going to strike it rich. I for one would be hitting up a site like that constantly. Favorite tracks on volume 8 include numbers 1, 2 and 8. Here's a link and the tracklist --

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2H5PIGI0

01 (4:47) Double X - Wreckin it [Jersey City 1995]
02 (4:57) Mytee G. Poetic - Com'n Wit Nuff Ruffness [Newark 1995]
03 (2:25) The 45 King - Here I Go [Jersey City 1993] (Who is the mc ?)
04 (3:56) Redman - Blow Your Mind [Newark 1992]
05 (3:35) Raw Breed - Let The Dogs Loose [New York, woops 1993]
06 (4:37) Troubleneck Brothers - Fuck All Ya'll [New York, woops 1992]
07 (3:12) Naughty By Nature - Connections [Newark 1995]
08 (4:54) Black Prince And Aziatic Roger - Fuck The World [Trenton 1992]
09 (4:33) Black Caesar - The Symptoms [Jersey City 1995]
10 (3:59) Just Shawn - Just For A Look [Newark 1996]
11 (5:02) Lords Of The Underground - Lunatic Asylum [Newark 1995]
12 (3:53) Fierce - Come Close [East Orange 1996]
13 (4:13) Organized Konfusion - Bring It On [New York, woops 1996]
14 (4:04) Scott Lark Da Sensei - It Aint Goin Down {Trenton 1996]
15 (3:06) Young Zee - Jack Mode [Newark 1996]
16 (4:54) Chino Xl - Rappaz Are In Danger [Newark 1996]
17 (3:58) E. Bros - Toast [Chicago or something.. 1995]
18 (3:18) D1 - Fakes [Newark 1994]
19 (4:32) F.o.a. - I Keep A Muthf--ka Swoll [trenton 1992]

Let me know what you like. If you see mistakes in the locations feel free to correct them but do not miss out on hearing the other cuts because something is mislabeled. I hope y'all dig what you hear.

--Schenectadyfan

Producer Highlight - Pee Wee

2009-12-10T09:30:00.004-05:00

Damn, I really miss detailed credits on albums.

Credits are what made me keep an eye (ear) open for The Beatnuts, Battlecat and Sam Sever. But in the late 80's, the producer's role still wasn't really prominent, it was usually a list of musicians that could tell a story before you even heard the song. So going to my bay area favorites, as long as it said Shorty B on bass, I KNEW it was going to be deep, slow and funky.

Another name that kept popping up in the bay area was Pee Wee. Mainly this was because I have always been a big "Digital Underground" fan, and by 1991, Pee Wee was a mainstay in the group.

Once you popped in their third album "Sons of the P" into your yellow sony walkman, the first verse we heard was Pee Wee's:

DIGITAL UNDERGROUND - THE D-FLO SHUTTLE

Let me give your ears a baptismal
Dip into the pool and let me chisel
Chunks of ignorance out your brain system
As I implant wisdom in the name of d-flo
Here we go with this, let me flow with this
Holy glory, how the dolio flow in this

He came off as a new Digital Underground MC, since they are known to add new MC's on each album. But, a quicker look to the credits would prove that he also a major player behind the boards, ass he grabs the Producer credit for "D-Flo Shuttle", and to be behind the sounds that came out of that album was, and still is, quite impressive. I had to dig deeper.

It wasn't too hard, because Pee Wee and hiphop's deepest baritone voice ever, Big Money Odis, got together to put out "A Day In The Life of a Player", as the duo "Gold Money". It lacked charisma, but still had some absolutely ridiculous tracks in between, starting with the funkiest motherfunken pimp track ever "Youngblood" (everything played by himself!) and finishing the track with the most "pwnest" track ever recorded. It was a one on one conversation between Pee Wee and the group called "The Young Black Teenagers". They get served. then chilled. And are never to be heard of again. Throughout the production of the album Pee Wee really takes full control and let's the album slide through hundreds of genres within 11 tracks. "Mnniiggaahh" starts with Beethoven - Fur elise and crashes into a heavy-rock induced track, while "Nothing" starts funky, goes into jazz, and then just gets deep into some "Pink Pantherish" finger-snappin' nouveau jazz movements.

GOLD MONEY - YOUNGBLOOD

Now, this was a GREAT time for Digital Underground, because just a year before Raw Fusion came out with "Live From the Styleetron" and Tupac debuted with "2Pacalypse Now". I liked both albums equally at first, but every time I realized that Live From The Styleetron was kickin harder, I would be held back to the fact that "Trapped" was slowly becoming my favorite rap song, so that would keep my interest for Pac's album. The credits on his album were disgusting and fucked up beyond belief. For example, I could clearly hear Pee Wee rapping on "I Don't Give a Fuck", but nothing in the credits. So for many years I thought that Pee Wee was just MCing and probably lending a hand in production. And not bad, his lyrics BLASTED the cops and became Pac's anthem for his second album.

Niggas!, isn't just the blacks
also a gang of mother-fuckers dressed in blue slacks
They say niggas hang in packs and their attitude is shitty
Tell me, who's the biggest gang of niggas in the city

When I grabbed that "Trapped" single from someone's record crates, the credits were much clearer. It said in three words. Produced by Pee-Wee.

TUPAC - TRAPPED

Pee Wee's voice would pop out again on the Dangerous Crew's album "Don't Try This At Home". The track "Gone With The Wind" was so dope that it must have been on every mixtape I made during the next 8 years.

DANGEROUS CREW - GONE WITH THE WIND

When I had the opportunity to ask him about this project with the Dangerous Crew, he told me that the crew was actually him, Shorty B and Father Dom:

"We used that album to feature Ourselves, Bad Influence (for some reason didn't make the album), Father Dom, Goldie, the Lunies (ended up going to another label) and all of the groups on Shorts new Dangerous Music Label. That's why every body thought the DANGEROUS CREW WAS ALL THOSE PEOPLE. Hey if you have that album and you look at my picture, that's NOT ME. Somebody switched the pictures at the label. I still don't know if it was done on purpose or if it was an accident. But, I guess that "gone with the Wind " was my pre-warning to get out of there. I'm still cool with Short and Shorty B and all the Rappers"

This all sounds typical of the Industry Rule #4080.

You will hear Pee Wee poppin' up all over the place during the years that Bay Area rap was running things. "Menace II Society" has his sounds on Ant Bank's "Packin a Gat" and Too Short's "Only the Strong Survive". Goldy, a Too Short affiliated MC, also had quite a few tracks with Pee Wee's production. He got busy on the white and black keys all over Too Short's albums "Cocktales" and "Get In Where Ya Fit In". I am sure his guitars got some licks on those too. A few tracks on Spice 1's "Black Bosalini" album got the Pee-Wee treatment too.

As the Bay Area lost it's "hiphop clout", Discogs.com slowly loses trace of any more current things Pee Wee's on.

The last time we chatted, he didn't mention anything specific, but this was quite a long time ago, so I'll shoot him a quick message and let's see if he adds his two cents to this piece!

For now, I hope you enjoy the Gold Money album, VERY rare, but sadly I think that my CD Rip skips on one track. I will add a few other tracks mentioned here to the zipped file.

-- cenzi stiles

Pete Nice (3rd Bass): Riches To Rags

2009-12-09T20:26:00.004-05:00

Sports Illustrated recently did a story on Pete Nice. It's a pretty great read and I encourage you all to check it because it's not your typical rapper tale. Below are some excerpts from the article. I felt like After reading you'll feel guilty for downloading Dust To Dust. --Philaflava

Pete Nice struts around a Hollywood soundstage, brandishing a silver-knobbed cane and spitting acid rhymes. "Getting paid to peddle sneakers and soda pop," he raps. "The thin ice you skate upon will break and set ya straight." In his boxy suit and slicked-back hair, Nash, 24, has a vaguely thuggish demeanor at odds with his Ivy League bachelor's degree in English. To his fans he is Prime Minister Pete Nice, of the interracial rap trio 3rd Bass. It is 1991, and the group is on The Arsenio Hall Show performing its biggest hit, the No. 1 rap single Pop Goes the Weasel. It's an extended verbal beat down of white rapper Vanilla Ice, whom it reviles as a culture thief, and it has helped pay for Nash's tinted-window Mercedes and his penthouse apartment in New York City. "Ya boosted the record, then ya looped it, ya looped it," Nash raps, "but now you're getting sued kinda stoopid."

Eighteen years later Nash sits in a café in lower Manhattan. At 42 he wears cuffed khaki pants and a short-sleeved button-down cotton shirt. He lives in a rental home in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., with his wife and young son, and he has driven a sensible Honda SUV to this meeting. Since his moment of fame as a rapper for Def Jam Records, Nash has achieved a markedly different kind of renown -- among hard-core baseball memorabilia collectors who wouldn't know Def Jam from Def Leppard. Over the past two decades Nash has become known as the most prolific source of the rarest old-school material, especially from the 19th century.

But on this afternoon in late July the tough-guy rapper turned baseball historian is mired in a widening scandal over the holiest relics of America's pastime. Nash recently lost a lawsuit against a leading memorabilia auctioneer in which he admitted to fraud, and, according to sources, the FBI is investigating whether he sold forged memorabilia. (Nash declined to comment on the investigation.)

Long before his unlikely rise to fame as a white rapper, Peter Nash was obsessed with the history of baseball. MC Serch, also of 3rd Bass, recalls the first time he visited the home of Nash's parents on Long Island, in the late 1980s. "Here was this 20-year-old kid," Serch says, "and he had all this stuff: three-fingered mitts and Ty Cobb baseball cards. It was his passion, more than I think emceeing was his passion."

By 2006 Nash cut the figure of a prosperous entrepreneur who might still be flush with music-business royalties. He drove a Mercedes SUV and owned a lakeside house in Cooperstown. But in fact he had acute money problems. Both the wax museum and Dreams Park partnerships had dissolved in lawsuits. His 3rd Bass royalties came to only about $5,000 a year, and an attempted reunion of the group, which included a performance at Woodstock 1999, never gained traction. Still, Nash showed no interest in a 9-to-5 career. "He never lost the celebrity attitude," says Fraser, who says he fell out with Nash after he refused to sell Nash the 1912 Red Sox trophy. "A regular job was beneath him."

Although Nash received a settlement in the Dreams Park litigation, the money went to satisfy legal and other debts. The house in Cooperstown was repeatedly under threat of foreclosure, the repo man was after his car, and Nash took to calling up friends for help in paying his basic living expenses: rent, a tank of gas, diapers, the phone bill. He seemed to be constantly juggling complex triangular deals in which he borrowed money (sometimes upwards of $100,000) using his baseball memorabilia as collateral. Sometimes he used the cash to hold off creditors, sometimes to buy more memorabilia.

"The only thing Pete failed at was being able to live without an object," says another collector and former friend of Nash's. "That's what always got him in trouble, because when he had money, he always needed the next thing -- and who can survive that, if you don't have a job?"

Nash, for his part, dismisses a suggestion that a 3rd Bass reunion might help solve some of his problems. "Serch has asked me to do certain things," Nash says. "It's not like there's any huge money in doing it. There's a lot of interest, but I mean, it's nothing I have that much of an interest [in]."

Click here for the full article.

U.S.C. Hip Hop NYC Real Deal Underground

2009-12-09T10:00:00.003-05:00

When i first saw this compilation in the store, i must admit that the only artists that were familiar to me were Screwball and Godfather Don. After spotting the production credits from DJ Spinna, The Beatnuts, Erick Sermon and Marley Marl, I thought that I could handle the cost and copped it. I never regretted this investment.

There is no track that i can say is a weak link. I'm still unfamiliar with two names on here, Slade Savage and Big Meal, so feel free to fill me in on their info if you know anything.

You will enjoy this one, we can guarantee you that.

VA - U.S.C. Hip Hop NYC Real Deal Underground (1999)

1. Kamakazee - Snakes (Produced By Marley Marl)
2. Screwball - Cookies And Cream (Produced By Mike Heron For Ghetto Pros)
3. Powerule - Rock Ya Not Quick (Pdoruced By Erick Sermon)
4. Triflicts - Genuine (Produced By The Beatnuts)
5. IG Off & Hazardhous - In The Air (Produced By DJ Spinna)
6. Screwball - They Wanna Know Why (Produced By Mike Heron & Ghetto Pros)
7. Gab Gotcha - On The Job (Produced By The Beatnuts)
8. Hostile - Beatem In The Head (Produced By Bezo)
9. Fanat - Zoo York (Produced By A Kid Called Roots)
10. Godfather Don - Piece Of Action (Produced By Godfather Don)
11. Big Meal - Niggas, Pimps And Players (Produced By Vic For Ghetto Pros)
12. Godfather Don - Bomb Baby (Produced By Godfather Don)
13. Slade Savage - War Stories (Produced By Bezo)
14. Screwball - On Point (Produced By Mike Heron For Ghetto Pros)

Preview:

DOWNLOAD

--Markshot

Shup Diddy's 90s Mix via TwitVid

2009-12-08T21:00:00.000-05:00

Shup Diddy is one of our forum's most eccentric and humorous contributors, but he's also a super hip hop crate digging nerd and DJ in his own right. He shared a live, unedited mix with us called "I Believe In The 90s" which he filmed and put on Twidvid for our listening and viewing pleasure:

I call it "I Believe in the 90's"

pt. 1

pt. 2(had to edit cause of some issues)

pt. 3

i had to put it on twitvid cause gay youtube blocked the audio on every single video cause of that stupid sony/wmg deal.

Let us know what you think. -- Thun

Various Artists Cd - 'Balance' (Philadelphia 1999)

2009-12-08T12:20:00.001-05:00

This is a somewhat obscure ep from 1999. Not sure how many of the tracks are exclusives but it's a nice lineup. It was co-produced by Cas and Omne, who had his hands in a number of other mid/late 90's philly releases. I really dig the 2nd cut 'the meanin' and 'so rich' by Ryan Banks. I have no idea if Ryan Banks did anything else, the track has grown on me. Also of interest are the 2 tracks by P.H.A., aka 'Power Hittin' Artist'. I became aware of him when Al at Crates Of Ag posted his 1st two singles. For those who slept, you can check them here --

http://alkuttraz.blogspot.com/2006/11/power-hittin-artist.html

Alkuttraz I hope you're reading man, this is some later material I hope is new to you. Here's a link for this cd --

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BUS8YTK7

1. (:37) cas - intro
2. (3:38) ag, kamachi & dj revolution - the meanin' (they don't know)
3. (3:52) power hittin' artist - walk the route
4. (3:28) kamachi - copperfield
5. (3:38) maylay sparks, kamachi & dj jay-ski - unusual styles
6. (:19) cas - interlude
7. (3:34) ryan banks - so rich
8. (2:44) power hittin' artist - beats and rhymes
9. (4:12) last emperor, kamachi & dj jay-ski - nile nutrition

The weak link in the chain is number nine, but at least it's last. Altogether this is a head nodding compilation that's not well known but entirely worth having. Buy the cd if you can find it, I picked mine up for 3 bucks. Enjoy!

--Schenectadyfan

Wyandanch High School Jam '85 - Biz Markie and Rakim

2009-12-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

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

Touring The States: San Francisco, CA

2009-12-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

Although they are from the Bay Area's Frisco city, Real Brothers delivers us different style than it was, at that time very popular all over the West Coast and the Bay Area, G-funk style of music.
This album have more accompanying sound to the East Coast standards.

Real Brothers - Soul Controllers (1992)

A1. Real Brothers
A2. Raise The Flag
A3. I'm A Get Mine
A4. Keep It Smooth
A5. Another Drug Song
A6. Two Heads Are Better Than One (T.O.A.M.P.)

B1. Soul Controllers
B2. Ya Burnin' Yourself
B3. Dream Seq. (Now We Got Africa!)
B4. Ease It Down
B5. What's Next?
B6. Mom Taught Me

Preview:

DOWNLOAD

--Markshot

Random VLS Drops - Hyperdermic Needlz (1995)

2009-12-06T22:40:00.001-05:00

I'm going to be dropping these random vinyl rips to quench that extra thirst for more T.R.O.Y. material that we all get sometimes. Just on some bonus treat end of the night steez.

(fresh 320kbps vinyl rip, cell phone cam scan)

A1 Hyperdermic Needlz - Always (raw mix)

A2 Hyperdermic Needlz - Always (radio)

A3 Hyperdermic Needlz - Always (instrumental)

B1 Hyperdermic Needlz - Word Up (raw mix)

B2 Hyperdermic Needlz - Word Up (radio)

B3 Hyperdermic Needlz - Word Up (instrumental)

[Download Here]

Previews:

Always (radio)

Word Up (radio)

This one is pretty nice. I'm partial to the b-side, "Word Up", because of the more mellow tone and the seemingly leisurely original flow that the second guy on the mic spits. And you can never go wrong with sampling Redman's quotable, "no matter who you are, you still catch a bullet scar." Don't sleep on "Always", though. It's dope, 'nuff said.

This was executive produced by Thirstin Howl III (legendary Lo Life skillionaire who was supposed to be working on an album with Sadat X in 2008 and they were recently seen in the studio together, peep the link on his name)and released on "Cook Rock Records". I believe this was their only release. I don't know who's who on these songs, but the record credits the writers as Napalm Bomb, Non DaScrip, and Breez, and was produced by Sonata.

Enjoy and expect a lot more of these ranging from known to unknown, but always dope.

And check the hyper links in the post. There's an article on the history of Lo Life and a great interview with Thirstin in there.

--Verge

James Brown - Samples Volume 2

2009-12-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

Round 2 from Roy. Remember it's James Brown Month over at his new spot Scratch Reaction. For more goodies like these make you sure you're F5ing the T.R.O.Y. forums daily. It's the gift that keeps on giving. --Philaflava

James Brown - Samples Volume 2

1. James Brown - I Can't Stand Myself (1968)
2. Phill Most Chill - Release Yourself
3. Ultimate Force - So Dam Tuf (Instrumental)
4. James Brown - Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud (1969)
5. Big Daddy Kane - Long Live The Kane
6. EPMD - Brothers On My Jock
7. West Coast Rap All Stars - All In The Same Gang (Instrumental)
8. Intelligent Hoodlum - Black & Proud
9. Divine Styler - It's A Black Thing
10. LL Cool J - Nitro
11. Kev-E-Kev - Keep On Doin'
12. Cobra MCees - The M Go
13. Brand Nubian - Dedication
14. Brand Nubian - I'm Black And I'm Proud
15. Cypress Hill - Insane In The Brain (Instrumental)
16. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y. (Drums)

Download Vol. 2

James Brown - I Can't Stand Myself (1968)

James Brown - Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud (1969)

The Bomb DJ's - Return of the DJ Vol. 1 (1995)

2009-12-04T14:00:00.000-05:00

Return of the DJ, Vol. 1 is a 1995 compilation released by Bomb Hip-Hop Records. This project was the first all dj/all scratching (turntablism) album ever released. My copy is actually the original independent pressing from 1995 but it was later re-released with a full-color artwork in 2000 which you can easily find online for a few bucks. Not only is this the first turntablism album ever, it actually features the greatest dj's doing their best cuts all in one compilation! This is classic material! You won't even miss the mc!

1. Kool DJ E.Q. - Death Of Hip-Hop
2. DJ Ghetto - Ghetto On The Cut
3. Rob Swift - Rob Get's Busy
4. Jeep Beat Collective - The Bomb Drops
5. Beat Junkies - Scratch Monopoly II
6. Invisible Scratch Pickles - Invasion Of The Octopus People
7. DJ Z-Trip - U Can Get With Discs Or U Can Get With D.A.T.
8. Peanut Butter Wolf - The Chronicles (I Will Always Love H.E.R.)
9. Mix Master Mike - Terrorwrist (Beneath The Under)
10. ASAP Productions - The Track
11. Cut Chemist - Lesson 4: The Radio
12. DJ Babu - Suckas (Sucka DJ Dis)

Download

-- Thomas V

James Brown - Samples Volume 1

2009-12-03T07:18:00.003-05:00

Former T.R.O.Y. member Roy is still dropping his always dope, well-thought out compilations and this month is James Brown Month over at his new spot Scratch Reaction. He recently posted this on the T.R.O.Y. forums and I thought it's something we should pass on to our readers. Peace to Roy and one of the greatest musicians of all time. --Philaflava

James Brown - Samples Volume 1

1. James Brown - I Got You (1966)
2. Gang Starr - Gotch U
3. Gang Starr - Gotch U (Hunter Mix)
4. Public Enemy - Contract On The World Love Jam
5. James Brown - Cold Sweat (1967)
6. Public Enemy - Prophets Of Rage
7. Public Enemy - Welcome To The Terrordome
8. Ice Cube - Jackin' For Beats
9. King Tee - Bass
10. Chubb Rock - What's The Word
11. Three Times Dope - Straight Up
12. Sweet Tee - I Got Da Feelin'
13. James Brown - Bring It Up (1967)
14. Gang Starr - Manifest
15. Gang Starr - Manifest (Remix)
16. Ultramagnetic MCs - See The Man On The Street

Download Mix

I Got You (1966)

Cold Sweat (1967)

Bring It Up (1967)

Produce-A-Lot

2009-12-02T10:35:00.002-05:00

When we talk about our "Top 5" producers, we almost never see the following names: John Bido, N.O. Joe, Brad Jordan, Mike Dean or James Smith.

This production team is behind putting Houston on hiphop's map. They are Rap-A-Lot's in-house production team, behind Geto Boy's classics "Mind Playing Tricks On Me", "Gangster Of Love", "I Aint With Being Broke".

GETO BOY - I AINT WITH BEING BROKE

It's really hard to go through Rap-A-Lot credits, because they don't detail by tracks, but rather just put "album produced by" and then list off all the names. Those aforementioned names always appear on almost every Rap-A-Lot product, but in different order. Perfect example: 5th Ward Boyz - Ghetto Dope EP. "Producer - James Smith, John Bido, Mike Dean, N.O. Joe". Echo Leader mentioned this on his Vintage Rap-A-Lot post.

Mike Dean and Devin argue over weed

Sometimes you can tell who did which beat by the sound, for example Mike Dean plays a lot of crisper guitars, so you know it's him behind quite a few tracks on that Geto Boys "Resurrection" album. Mike also did quite a bit of engineering and mastering for Rap-A-Lot, so his name and sound appears even when his beats don't.

Brad Jordan

Brad Jordan, better known as the MC Scarface, likes his deeper yet nasal bass, so Menace Clan's "What You Say" has that signature synth bass that also comes up again in Scarface's "My Homiez". He also seems to enjoy slow-roll BPM's which is fine with me!

MENACE CLAN - WHAT YOU SAYIN' (dope fuckin track!)

SCARFACE - MY HOMIEZ

Before we go any further, a perfect example of how they work together is adding Brad's slow gangsta funk wit Mike Dean's fascination for hi-figh sounds in Facemobs "Stay True".

FACEMOB - STAY TRUE

Bido has a dope production style. And he has had a lot of time and experience to perfect it, since he is definitely the first of the group to really put in work for Rap-A-Lot, through "Grip It! On That Other Level" back in '89. All those dirty vinyl drum loops and soul samples are brought to life through quite a few of his beats. Scarface's "Street Life" from the South Central soundtrack and Too Much Troubles "Family" show off this resurrecting style.

Geto Boys - Stret Life

Too Much Troubles "Family"

N.O. Joe

N.O. Joe brings more synth sounds, but always with real minimalistic results and his "gumbo funk" as he calls it. A non Rap-A-Lot track that really highlights his production is AZ's "Doe or Die", where only during the chorus are there more synthetic g-strings. Scarface's "Friday Night" from the Friday soundtrack showcases the same style.

AZ - DOE OR DIE

SCARFACE - FRIDAY NIGHT

They have recycled a few of their own beats for different albums. Maybe they really liked their own tunes? These two have the same piano loops.

Willie D - Die
Bushwick Bill - Ever So Clear

Willie D - Die

Bushwick Bill - Ever So Clear

And with these two, well, it certainly sounds like a "pt.1 and pt.2" situation.

Geto Boys - Straight Gangsterism
Big Mike - On Da Real

Geto Boys - Straight Gangsterism

Big Mike - On Da Real

Those four mentioned are the main musical producers, and I have a feeling that even though we see "James Smith" on production credits, he was probably more of the Executive Producer than the musical kind. James, or Prince J, is the business man/mind behind the whole Rap-A-Lot empire, so it doesn't surprise me much to see him dipping his hand in the production credits.

Now, mind you that I have only picked the songs that best describe each producers style, but one day I would like to make a Best of Rap-A-Lot, but until then, once again I gotta redirect you to Echo's recent post "Vintage Rap-A-Lot"

-- cenzi stiles

Midwest Series Volume 2 (1989-1997)

2009-12-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

Better late than never right ? It's been a long time since I posted any of my midwest compilations. No time like the present, seize the day. Seize the music that is. This mix is fairly varied. Cuts like 'Skanless' or 'Two To The Chest' are pretty gangsta, but there's some dope true school hip hop here as well. This 2nd volume inevitably makes me crank up my system. Drive your neighbors insane. If you like that midwest sound you'll be coming back again and again.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HEZS368E

01 (1:13) Awesome Dre - Intro (Detroit 1989)
02 (4:00) Villain - Skanless (Chicago 1994)
03 (4:38) Da Flint Connection - Two To The Chest (Flint 1994)
04 (4:34) D 2 Tha S (Dedicated 2 Tha Streets) - Doomsday (Chicago 1993)
05 (4:31) Beastside Crew - Mind Over Matter (Detroit 1994)
06 (4:45) Schoolly D - Ghettofunkstylistic (Philadelphia 1995)
07 (4:41) Aduo And B.O.T. Incorporated - Hip Knockin (Flint 1993)
08 (3:34) Awol - Detroit 4 Life (Detroit 1994)
09 (4:17) B Movie Fiendz (Feat. Anthony Dee La Rock) - Juggernaught (Chicago 1997)
10 (3:45) Mood - Cincinnati (Cincinatti 1997)
11 (3:34) Ministerz Of A Sinister Society - Fully Automatic (Flint 1995)
12 (3:15) Tha Chamba - Tha Siclic (Chicago 1995)
13 (5:19) Ec Illa - Mating Ritual (Chicago 1995)
14 (4:57) N4REDD - On 'Da' Grind (Ohio 199?)
15 (4:20) Jack Frost & BANME - You Don't Like How I'm Livin (Chicago 1992)
16 (3:32) Alps Cru - All Alone (1996)
17 (3:11) Shade Luv X - Dont Test (St Paul Mn 1993)
18 (0:15) Shade Luv X - If I See A Knife Or A Gun (St Paul Mn 1993)

You might be asking yourself why a Schoolly track is on this mix. Because it's gutter and it fit well, that's why. I hope y'all dig the selection. Tell me what you like!

--Schenectadyfan

Great EPs: King Sun x Cold Chillin' - "Strictly Ghetto"

2009-11-30T12:15:00.000-05:00

For those of you that frequent the forum, you will undoubtedly have noticed the "Illest EPs Ever" thread that's been ongoing for the past month or so. Too many dope EPs to name have been uploaded by numerous forum members.

One of the best EPs to be uploaded, in my humble opinion, is King Sun's "Strictly Ghetto" EP. Released in 1994 on Cold Chillin' Records, one look at the cover tells you this is a different King Sun than the one you remember from "Righteous But Ruthless." Sun-D Moet traded in his kufi for a Carhartt jacket, and forging a harder-edged street-level experience for the listener. If you are a fan of the TROY blog, I guarantee you will love this record. The beats are top notch (I'm not sure who helmed the boards, as a Google search proves fruitless) and Sun definitely stepped up his lyrical game.

Unfortunately, the EP seemed to get lost in the decline and eventual demise of Cold Chillin' Records shortly after it's release. It's currently out of print, but you can get a CD copy on Amazon for under $100...you know, if paying exorbitant prices for obscure early 90's rap records is your thing.

Enjoy this dope little slice of '94, courtesy of Echo Leader & the TROY blog.

1. Humm Deez Nuts
2. Street Corner
3. BNS Sex
4. Once Upon A Time
5. Suck No Dick
6. Robbin' Of Da Hood
7. Get Down With Da Get Down

Mediafire

- Echo Leader