Saturday, February 27, 2010

Rap Treats #76: Raekwon "Latest & Greatest Hits" Promo Tape

I love this shit. This is the promo record that Loud Records put out in '95 to promote OB4CL. I need to dig up my box of promo tapes and start ripping them.

Raekwon
Latest & Greatest Hits Promo Tape


Saturday, February 20, 2010

Classic Material: The Making Of "Hard Knock Life"


This is a pretty dope video of how the 45 King produced "Hard Knock Life" record came to be. The documentary is from Sweden. Kid Capri makes a cameo (if you've heard the story before then you know why).


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Demos: Cypress Hill Demo Tape (1989)


I'm a sucker for demo tapes. Something about hearing the actual recordings that lead to record deals is just dope to me. This one has been floating around for a while but I wanted to add it to the archives so here it is... the Cypress Hill demo tape that lead to their deal with Ruffhouse. This was recorded in 1989, a couple years before they dropped their first single in 1991. All these tracks sound like exactly what they are - original versions of records that ended up on their debut album. The only song I hadn't heard was "Caliente" which obviously didn't make the cut. Large up TROY for being a dope blog with shit (like this) that I feel the need to jack.

Cypress Hill

1. The Phunckee Feel One
2. Caliente
3. Real Estate
4. Light Another
5. Psycobetabuckdown
6. The Phuncky Feel One (Unpolished)


Classic Material: J Dilla in Toronto (2002)


This rarely seen footage gets the word on Dilla's influence from Waajeed, Frank Nitty, and Mr. Love Movement - Dilla himself. These were Dilla's last moments in Toronto.


Rap Treats #75: Brand Nubian - The Now Rule Files EP


This record was limited to only 200 copies and features original, alternate and demo tracks. All songs were recorded between 1989 and 1997 and were produced by Brand Nubian except for "How Ya Livin" and "Love vs. Hate". I love hearing the original Brand Nubian line up together. They've always been dope, but not quite the same after Grand Puba left.

Brand Nubian
(One Leg Up Records)

A1 "How Ya Livin" *Produced by Pete Rock
A2 "I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That"
A3 "The Devil"
B1 "Mind Your Business" (Original Mix)
B2 "Where Is Puba?"
B3 "Probable Cause" (Original Mix)
B4 "Love Vs. Hate" (Alternate Version) *Producer by Lord Finesse


Questlove's J Dilla Tribute


Questlove made an appearance on Tony Touch's "Toca Tuesdays" radio show this week and dropped a DJ set of none stop Jay Dee related music. Super dope.

Questlove