Saturday, November 12, 2011

Records: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - "Touch Of Jazz" 12"


This one is kind of random. I should really re-up this with the rest of their 12"s from the first 2 DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince album, but for now this will have to do. My favourite Jeff/Prince song.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
(Jive Records)

A1 "A Touch Of Jazz" (Extended Re-Touch)
A2 "A Touch Of Jazz"
B1 "A Touch Of Jazz" (Collapsed In The Street Mix)
B2 "A Touch Of Jazz" (Collapsed In The Street Edit)

Produced by Brian "Chuck" New


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Records: Def Jam Original 12"s (DJ001-DJ007)


There are a few legendary record labels that are synonymous with Hip-Hop music. Sugar Hill, Enjoy, Cold Chillin', Tommy Boy, Loud, Death Row, and Bad Boy Records all come to mind, but for a Hip-Hop junkie like myself none are more legendary than Def Jam Recordings. Founded by Rick Rubin in his NYU dorm room in 1982 when he released a punk record by his band Hose (the real first record on Def Jam), Def Jam became the the label we know today when Russell Simmons got involved in 1984. I'm not going to run down the history of Def Jam here because it's pretty well documented, plus you can just go HERE and get the full story. This post is all about the first 7 releases on the label. For those that don't collect vinyl, or never got their hands on the original seven, the thing that sets these 12 inches apart are basically the labels. Def Jam's classic black label has become pretty recognizable, but the first seven releases were on a burgundy label. Not sure why they changed the direction of the artwork, and it was probably for the better, but it makes the first seven releases on Def Jam pretty rare and special for record nerds like myself. Some of the original artists like LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys went on to hall of fame careers, others such as Hollis Crew and Jimmy Spicer didn't quite make it to prime time. Either way these records are the shit to me and represent the birth of a dynasty. And just for some bonus Def Jam treats, I threw in the T-La Rock & Jazzy Jay "It's Yours" 12" which was the first Hip-Hop record to have the Def Jam logo on it, and a few tracks by Rick Ruban's band Hose so you can get a taste of what a pre Hip-Hop Rick Ruban was into before he had a hand in blowing Hip-Hop music up worldwide. It isn't Hip-Hop, or even def for the matter, just some music nerdology for you crumbs!

LL Cool J (DJ001)

A1 "I Need A Beat" (Vocal)
B1 "I Need A Beat" (Zootie Mix)
B2 "I Need A Beat" (Instrumental)

Produced by Rick Ruben


Beastie Boys (DJ002)

A1 "Rock Hard"
A2 "Party's Getting Rough"
B1 "Beastie Groove"
B2 "Beastie Groove" (Instrumental)

Produced by Rick Ruben & Beasties


Jazzy Jay (DJ003)

A1 "Def Jam"
B1 "Cold Chillin' In The Spot" Featuring Russell Rush
B2 "Cold Chillin' In The Spot" (Instrumental)

Produced by Rick Ruben


MCA & Burzootie (DJ004)

A1 "Drum Machine"
A2 "Drum Machine" (Mini Jerk Edit)
B1 "Drum Machine" ((That) Psycho Dust Version)

Produced by Burzootie


LL Cool J (DJ005)

A1 "I Want You"
A2 "I Want You" (Instrumental)
B1 "Dangerous"
B2 "Dangerous" (Instrumental)
B3 "Dangerous" (Burnt Mix)

Produced by Rick Ruben


Jimmy Spicer (DJ006)

A1 "This Is It"
A2 "This Is It" (Chant, Instrumental)
B1 "Beat The Clock"
B2 "Beat The Clock" (Instrumental)

Produced by Rick Ruben


Hollis Crew (DJ007)

A1 "It's The Beat"
B1 "It's The Beat" (Instrumental)
B2 "The Beat"

Produced by Jam Master Jay, DJ Run and Rick Ruben


T-La Rock & Jazzy Jay

A1 "It's Yours" (Radio Mix)
A2 "It's Yours" (Instrumental)
B1 "It's Yours" (Scratch Party Death Mix)
B2 "It's Yours" (Instrumental Party)

Produced by Rick Ruban


Hose
(I don't have the full 7" release or the EP, but these are a few tracks of Rick Ruban's band that appeared on the first two Def Jam Recordings releases circa 1982)



Saturday, November 5, 2011

Rap Treats #89: Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne Concert


There are two concert this year that have me geeked out. The first is motherfucking Prince, and the very next night it is these two - Jay-Z & Kanye. That's right, Prince and Watch the Throne back to back. Throw in Pete Rock vs. Premier in town that same weekend and odds are I'm going to lose my fucking mind. Anyways, if you can't make (or afford) the Watch The Throne show then here is your fix - a recording of the whole concert from North Carolina. Hov & 'Ye Stans rejoice. 40+ songs. AGAIN!

Jay-Z & Kanye West

1. Throne Music
2. H.A.M.
3. Who Gon Stop Me
4.Try a Little Tenderness
5. Otis
6. Welcome To The Jungle
7. Gotta Have It
8. Where I'm From
9. Nigga What? Nigga Who?
10. Can't Tell Me Nothing
11. Flashing Lights
12. Jesus Walks
13. Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)
14. PSA
15. U Don't Know
16. Run This Town
17. Monster
18. Power/Power Remix
19. Made In America
20. New Day
21. Hard Knock Life
22. Izzo
23. Empire State oOf Mind
24. Runaway
25. Heartless
26. Stronger
27. On To The Next One
28. Dirt Off Your Shoulders
29. Give It To Me
30. That's My Bitch
31. Good Life
32. Touch The Sky
33. All Of The Lights
34. Big Pimpin'
35. Gold Digger
36. 99 Problems
37. What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
38. No Church in the Wild
39. Lift Off
40. Niggas In Paris
41. Niggas In Paris
42. Niggas In Paris
43. Encore