Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Rap Treats #88: LL Cool J "Year Of The Hip-Hop" (1994)


LL Cool J is hard as hell! Well not so much these days, but this record here is much closer to the "Rock The Bells" LL than it is to the "Hey Lover" LL that we all know and don't love. This was actually recorded back in '94 with K-Def but was lost behind a radiator until now (for real). For the full story on this unreleased LL Cool J joint let's take it straight from the soundcloud page...

"Back in 1994 K-Def was working on some beats out of the B Room in Marly Marl's House Of Hits when LL Cool J walked in on his session and said "let's make some tracks together". Uncle L had always wanted to rhyme on a track using the famous ESG breakbeat 'UFO', so he had Def lay it down with some scratches and then went to town with the mic. Both thought they had a sure fire hit on their hands but unfortunately it was never used.

The DAT tape of the studio session was feared lost for several years before it eventually turned up stuck behind a radiator! Now, 17 years later, K-Def and Slice-of-Spice are proud to present 'Year Of The Hip Hop' in all it's vinyl glory.

As with all Slice-of-Spice pressings, no expense is being spared for this vinyl labor of love. Outside of a full color cover, with a 3mm spine, the special limited edition version comes on solid orange vinyl, with individual gold stamp numbering. Once again we're coming at you with strong cover art from the legendary Joe Buck, and personally we think this is his best one yet!"

LL Cool J