Ice-T's Art Of Rap - Official Movie Trailer

The Original Gangster Ice-T has been deep in the rap game since the mid 80's. With classic after classic under his belt, he is one of the most respected rappers in the game by both fans and peers. With that said, not many people could pull off a film like Art Of Rap. It's full of all our heroes speaking on, well, the art of rapping. Chuck D, KRS One, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Common, Kanye West, Nas, Doug E Fresh, B-Real, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Ice Cube, Xzibit, Treach, Redman, Bun B, Afrika Bambaataa, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Marley Marl, Kool Keith, Melle Mel, Run DMC (and more) all make an appearance. On June 15th the Art Of Rap is coming to a theatre near you. This is is a first day, first screening appointment for me!

For bonus Art Of Rap, here is Smooth Da Hustler's title track to the film where he takes name dropping rappers to a whole new level. The song is no "Broken Language" but I get the concept.

Smooth Da Hustler

"The Art Of Rap"

Classic Material: N.W.A. - Live in Concert (Video)

N.W.A. is on my list of artists that I'd give anything to have seen live, but due to all kinds of reasons that will never happen. A few years back we posted the audio of this show as Rap Treat #54, but this is a dvd rip of the Houston, Texas concert which means the audio came straight from the mixing board and is professionally shot and edited (at least to 1989 standards anyways). Unlike many artists from the late '80's N.W.A. was not known for their live show, but this concert does not disappoint. They have a dope stage set, their show is put together tight, they have mad hits to rock, and they have a couple dancers! I didn't really see that coming but then again having a couple of fly girls dancing on stage works for them. This is easily worth 25 minutes of your life, especially if you were never lucky enough to witness The World's Most Dangerous Band in concert before Ice Cube left and Eazy passed away.

You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge.

Nardwuar vs. Currency Pt 3

This is the 3rd time these two hook up, and the third time hilarity ensues.

Classic Material: Breakin' N Enterin' Documentary (1983)

I've yet to watch this, but just the subject matter was enough for it to find its way on to the pages of Nation Of Millions. This is a 1983 film about the early L.A. breakdancing and Hip-Hop scene. Get your popcorn (with hot butter), sit back and enjoy!

Co-Sign: Camp Lo & Ski Beats - Fort Apache EP (2012)

Camp Lo's Uptown Saturday Night album is one of my all time favourites. There is something about Camp Lo rappin' on Ski beats that just fits. It's a Snoop rappin' on Dr. Dre beats thing. A Guru on Primo beats... The Clipse on Pharrell's beats... Chuck D on Bomb Squad production... or anybody from Wu-Tang rappin' on a RZA beat thing. So this comes as a nice surprise... a new Camp Lo EP produced entirely by Ski Beats. Perfect.

Camp Lo & Ski Beats

Fort Apache EP

Demos: D-Nice - "They Call Me D-Nice" (Demo)

"Takin' out you suckas and you don't know how I did it!"

Original material from former BDP/Flavor Unit member turned photographer/Roc Nation DJ D-Nice. This is the demo version of the ultra classic "Thery Call me D-Nice". That's right. Enjoy!

D-Nice

"They Call Me D-Nice" (Demo)

Beastie Boys' Rolling Stone Interviews On MCA

It's been almost 2 weeks since MCA's passing and Mike D and Ad Rock have broken their silence regarding their friend and bandmate. Both of them spoke to Rolling Stone about MCA, his role with the band, the Beastie Boys last recording session, and what kind of a person Adam Yauch was.

Ad Rock - "Yauch was in charge. He was smarter, more organized. In a group of friends, you all come up with stupid shit to do. But you never do it. With Yauch, it got done. He had that extra drive to see things through. We each had our roles. One of his was the make-it-happen person."

Read the whole Ad Rock interview HERE

Mike D - "We were playing around with this 808 drum machine. We had this beat, and Yauch said, "I'd like to hear what it would sound like backwards." Run from Run-D.M.C. was there, and he was like, "Man, this is crazy." But Yauch recorded this beat, bounced it to another tape, flipped it around – this is pre-digital sampling – and bounced it back to the multi-track tape. The reversed beat basically became "Paul Revere." Yauch saw this thing we couldn't see – and he killed it."

Read the whole Mike D interview HERE

KRS One's Boogie Down Production Stories

Boogie Down Production is one of my all time favourite groups. Vibe sat down with KRS One and had him break down his catalogue. These are basically BDP stories from the '80's. Rap nerd shit all day. Below is KRS' breakdown of how Criminal Minded came to be. You can check his stories about By All Means Necessary HERE, Ghetto Music HERE and Self Destruction HERE.

“Me and Scott La Rock (DJ and co-founder of Boogie Down Productions) started B Boy Records, which was a small little record company, with some other guys—Ray Wilson, Jack Allen and Bill Kamarra. That’s where we put out ‘South Bronx.’ Before all this, Scott Sterling (Scott La Rock) was my social worker and I was a homeless dude in the shelter. Me, Just-Ice, and ICU…we were all homeless b-boys who rapped and did graffiti. We were living in the streets day-to-day…all we had was hip-hop. We’d hang out at hip-hop spots, go to the train yards and tag, go to the park jams, battle each other…we were living it out completely. This was about 1985, and somehow, by the order of the universe, Scott becomes my social worker. He would ask me, ‘What is it that you want to do with your life?’ I would tell him I’m a MC and a philosopher [laughs]. But Scott really took that seriously and stayed on me. I did some rhymes for him about nuclear war and the world coming to an end and he loved it. But we didn’t always see eye-to-eye. We got into a lot of arguments.

But what’s crazy is Scott would invite me to a place called Broadway RT where he DJ’d every Friday and Saturday. That’s where my eyes opened up. I was on the guest list, had a drink ticket, walked in and the place was jammed. People were dancing and it was hip-hop to the maximum degree with the Adidas, bubble goose jackets, bamboo earrings, Cazal glasses and Kangols. And my corny, nerd social worker was the absolute coolest dude on Friday and Saturday nights! That blew my mind. Me and Scott formed the group Boogie Down Productions because with the way I rhymed we knew that nobody was going to sign us. We went around to everybody…RCA, Sony, Columbia…no one wanted to hear our records. So we became our own producers because we didn’t think we wasn’t going to make it as MC and DJ’s. That’s where the name Boogie Down Productions came from.

Flash forward. Boogie Down Productions’ career starts with a battle. A lot of people were saying we were going after Run-DMC. But let’s get this out of the way: Run-DMC was king during the time we were about to drop Criminal Minded! That needs to be said at the top of this interview. At that time Run and them weren’t king just because they were selling platinum records. They were king because of the way they presented hip-hop to hip-hop fans. It was the way that they dressed from the Adidas to the Godfather hats. It was the way that they rhymed. Everyone knew that Run-DMC with the great DJ Jam Master Jay were the ultimate hip-hop group from 1983 to 1987. In hip-hop you had to beat the guy on top. If you claimed you were the king, you had to be stomping crews out every week. And Run-DMC was killing them! Every week something was coming off those Run-DMC albums. And that’s when I came around in 1985. BDP wanted to prove we could be on top.

Now right around 1985 the crack cocaine scene was coming in. The West Coast had already had their share of it since ’82-’83, but it started getting into the East Coast on the street level. There was a group of people that felt like something should be said about the escalating violence; about how crack dealers were killing the weed dealers in the neighborhood. They were getting killed so that the crack dealers could move in. In a lot of cases, it was actually the cops that were working with the crack cocaine dealers killing off the Rastafarian dreads who would sell the herb in the ‘hood. Crack started destroying everything. At this time the MC was the person who spoke on behalf of our community. That was your job as a rapper. You didn’t think about making records. There were whole MC crews that never made records that influenced hip-hop greatly. Ask DMC who will tell you stories about sitting at the foot of Grandmaster Caz learning every cadence and move he made. This was a crazy time. You had Run-DMC, you had LL Cool J and Def Jam; and then you had another powerful clique on the rise—the Juice Crew. This was all happening as Boogie Down Productions was about to release Criminal Minded.

BDP wasn’t trying to be hard in a street sense. We were just taking our cue from the Black Panthers. Remember, they used to walk around with their guns out because it was legal before the Patriot Act. So on the cover of Criminal Minded you see me and Scott posing on the cover with guns. I even put the shotgun belt over my shoulder, which was a longtime symbol of revolution for the Mexicans, Native Americans, and for the Africans. The streets were bubbling. MC Shan from the Juice Crew disses LL and tells him that he bit his style and challenges him to a battle. This was huge! The Juice Crew was doing it big. Roxanne Shante just came off of battling UTFO. I finally had my demo of ‘Criminal Minded’ with Scott cutting up Trouble Funk. We also had ‘Elementary’ on there. Somehow we heard Mr. Magic (influential host of the legendary New York hip-hop radio show Rap Attack)—who was down with Marley and the Juice Crew—said we were wack. And we were like, ‘Wack???!!! Mr. Magic is wack! Shan is wack. Marley is wack!’ That’s when I picked a battle with Shan on ‘South Bronx.’ I mimicked his song the same way Roxanne did on ‘Roxanne, Roxanne.’ He answers me with ‘(South Bronx) Kill That Noise,’ which was a huge regional record as well. I then answered with ‘The Bridge Is Over.’ And I shut it down [laughs].

I was so happy to be making records. I’m still appreciative to MC Shan to this day. If it wasn’t for Shan there would be no KRS-One. BDP came out victorious, but we didn’t come out all the way victorious because the critics kept saying, ‘Well, all you guys are is a battle group…you’re not a real group like Run-DMC, the Fat Boys or like Whodini.’ And they were right. So I ran back and wrote songs that showed that we were here to stay…that we were capable of making an entire album. We did the [rock sound] like Run and them on ‘Dope Beat.’ We started making songs like ‘The P Is Free’ and ‘9mm Goes Bang,’ which talked about how the crack dealers were moving out the herb dealer. And we were breaking new ground by using dancehall reggae. Hip-hop had never heard anything like that before. Even Schoolly D was like, ‘Yo, that shit was cold.’ Even though he rhymed about street life, he was still a conscious street rapper like how NWA did it with ‘Express Yourself.’ Basically, BDP was all about realism. But on a conscious level.”

Rap Treats #99: Big Pun - "Still Not A Player" (Reference Track)

This has been floating around as the "Still Not A Player" demo, but what it really is is the reference track Pun sent Joe before they recorded their smash. Pun "sings" Joe's part and Cuban Link does Pun's verses while the explain to Joe how they want the record to be put together. Also, this came courtesy of DJ Soul as the loud and poorly placed tag indicates.

Bug Pun w/ Cuban Link

"Still Not A Player" (Reference Track)

Classic Material: BIGGIE & Jay-Z Performing "Get Money" (1996)

This is basically why we have a section called Classic Material. BIGGIE performing "Get Money" with Jay-Z as his hype man back in '96. This all happened at Ralph McDaniels birthday party. Peep his run down below.

“I wanted to get B.I.G. to host [it], but really I wanted him to perform. Jay-Z came with the whole Roc-A-Fella crew and they got on stage. I told the DJ, ‘If Biggie gets on stage, play a Biggie song and we’ll get him to perform.’ DJ Ace threw on ‘Get Money’ and the whole crowd went crazy. B.I.G. looks at me like, ‘I guess I’m supposed to perform now, right?’ Jay-Z plays hypeman to B.I.G. on ‘Get Money.’ That just rang through the hood forever.”

Rap Treats #98: Original, Rare and Unreleased 4

Straight outta 30 Rockefeller Plaza we have Ice Cube performing "Straight Outta Compton" (kind of) on the Jimmy Fallon show. This was actually recorded before they went on the air to hype up the studio audience. Cube goes in over the most incredible Roots band including Black "MC Ren" Thought and guitarist Kirk "Eazy-E" Douglas in what is probably the illest karaoke performance ever. You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge.

Ice Cube

"Straight Outta Compton" (The Roots Remix)

This was originally on the advance copy of The Love Movement album, but for whatever reason it didn't make the final cut. No rappin', just Mos Def introducing ATCQ playing the role of host at "the comfortable Paladino Lounge and Supper Club". Nothing ground breaking, but a cool listen for Tribe heads.

A Tribe Called Quest

"Intro" featuring Mos Def (Unreleased)

The original version of "Benjamins". This was before BIGGIE found his way onto the record. This version saw the light of day on a Bad Boy promo tape that was given out back in '96. Same beat, but just Puffy & The Lox on this one. This song is the reason the version that everybody knows is called the "remix".

Puff Daddy & The Lox

"It's All About The Benjamins" (Original Version)

This was recorded in '94 around the "Get It Together" time. Completely different beat than the bugged out version that came out in '99. I dig this one better. Much better.

Beastie Boys

"Intergalactic" (Original Version)

I always felt that "Regulate" would have been better served if the version we all know and love wasn't the radio edit. Everything is better with swearing in my books and "Regulate" is no fucking exception. This is the dirty version that was never released. It kind of sounds like shit and doesn't start clean but fuck it, "Regulators, mount up!"

Warren G & Nate Dogg

"Regulate" (Original Dirty Version)

The "Dig A Hole" that made the Kingdom Come album was produced by Swizz Beatz, and like the whole Kingdom Come album this wasn't Jay's best work. The original version of the song was produced by Just Blaze and to my ears is WAY better than Swizzy's version. This should have been on the album no question. Maybe it was a sample problem, maybe it was a record label thing, or maybe it was Jay just fucked up. Regardless, Just Blaze let this one loose so enjoy!

Jay-Z

"Dig A Hole" (Original Version)

Rap Treats #97: Beastie Boys - Live on Madonna Tour (1985) + Live at CBGB (1982)

Here are a couple of early concert by the Beastie Boys. They aren't super rare or hard to find, but I wanted to ad them to list. The first is their opening set on Madonna's Like A Virgin Tour from 1885. This was before they blew up and the material was all pre Licenced To Ill. They were on Def Jam by this point and their show is mostly based on the Def Jam 12" MCA put out in '85. The second show is from their punk band days and has nothing to do with Hip-Hop. It's still dope though because it's the Beastie Boys at legendary NYC punk venue CBGB in 1982.

Beastie Boys

Live at St. Paul Civic Center (Madonna Tour - May 21st, 1985)

1. "Intro"

2. "It's Yours"

3. "She's On It"

4. "Drum Machine"

5. "Beastie's Groove"

6. "Rock Hard"

Beastie Boys

Live at CBGB, NY (Nov. 20th, 1982)

Classic Material: Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique Album Release Party (1989)

We're on some Beastie Boys shit right now for obvious reasons. This is some random footage from the Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique album release party June 29th, 1989. 48+ minutes of random footage to be exact. The coolest thing about this party is that it's from the top of the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. The first part is coverage of the actual record release party. I mean they are filming the promo poster displays, a flag waving in the wind, people eating the catering, people looking at balloons, people chatting with the Beastie Boys, and basically just people hanging out a record label shindig. Even the president of Capitol Records makes a little speech. This looks like its a media only thing and probably the last thing these three wanted to be doing. The second half is an interview with the Beastie Boys about all kinds of stuff including the Paul's Boutique album, "white rapper" topic, a bunch of questions they think are stupid, and a ton of other stuff relevant to Hip-Hop in 1989.

Commercial Rap: Sprite Edition

Kurtis Blow (1986)

Sprite always had the illest rapper commercials.

Here is the first batch. Part 2 coming soon!

Kid N Play (1990)

Heavy D & The Boyz (1990)

Kriss Kross (1993)

Nas & AZ (1997)

Drake (2010)

Best Of Beastie Boys Live Mix

This came to me via Twitter from the homie Jeff at BOOOOOOOM.

I put this mix together from some of some of my favourite live performances by Beastie Boys. I wanted to include ‘Somethings Got to Give’ specifically because MCA used to always preface it by talking about non-violence so when I think of him I think of this song.Turn this up LOUD, and put two fingers in the air for MCA.R.I.P.

Rap Treats #96: Public Enemy - Public Enemy No. 1 (Original Version/WBAU Promo)

This could also be looked at as Public Enemy's demo, but technically it is a promo that aired on Doctor Dre's Operating Room show on WBAU back in '85. Basically it's the original version of what became P.E.'s first single on Def Jam. Lyrics are a bit different at times. Sugar Ray Leonard gets referenced instead of Mike Tyson, and Flav's intro is basically the same but just an earlier take. Ill to hear Chuck D & Flavor Flav at the very beginning of P.E. career.

Public Enemy

Public Enemy No. 1 (Orignal Version/WBAU Promo)

Tribute to Adam Yauch: MCA's Opening Lines

R.I.P. MCA

Commercial Rap: R&B Edition - Mary J Blige for KFC

This will never get old.

I just wanted to make sure it got it's due shine in our COMMERCIAL RAP section.

Classic Material: Mini-Documentary On Sampling from 1989.

"What do you mean you stole my car outta my backyard and put a kit on it and was driving it around because I wasn't driving it. What do you mean by that? That's MY car! I want money for it. Regardless on how old it is." - LL Cool J

Featuring: LL Cool J, Ice T, Prince Paul, Steve Winwood, De La Soul, Tom Petty, Steve Stevens, Cold Cut, Kool Moe Dee, Ofra Haza, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Debbie Gibson, Russel Simmons, Beastie Boys, Lou Reed, bunch of lawyers and a douche host.

Rap Treats #95: Jam Master Jay DJ Set on Westwood (1998)

In all my travels through the internet, I have come across exactly 1 recording of a Jam Master Jay DJ set - and this is it. Jay was seriously my hero growing up and the reason I started DJing so this is extra ill to me. This is JMJ spinning an old school set on Tim Westwood's radio show in the UK. JMJ gets at all the classics and even starts his set off by rappin' a verse of "Peter Piper". Shouts to StepOne for the find.

Jam Master Jay

Live on Tim Westwood's Radio One Rap Show (1998)

Rap Treats #94: Outkast - Live at House Of Blues (2000)

It's crazy to think that this recording is 12 years old. This is Outkast at their best in my books. I'm cool with everything that has come after (minus Idlewild), but it's this era and the previous 6 years that puts them in the discussion for best duo ever. Courtesy of TROY, here is the audio of Outkast performing at the House Of Blues in L.A. October 16th, 2000.

Outkast

Live at House Of Blues L.A. (2000)

1. Gasoline Dreams Atliens

2. So Fresh So Clean

3. Spottieottiedopealicious

4. Skew It On The Bar-B

5. Southernplayalisticadillacfunkymuzik

6. Elevators

7. Da Art Of Storytelling

8. Spaghetti Junction

9. Humble Mumble

10. Miss Jackson

11. Red Velvet

12. Gansta Shit

13. Rosa Parks

14. Bombs Over Baghdad

15. Call Before I Come

Classic Material: Wu-Tang Clan on Bronx Public Access TV (1991)

Courtesy my 2nd favourite site on the inter web. Wu-Tang on a public access TV show from 1991! Definition of classic material. Read the labels...

"EGOTRIPLAND.COM brings you this crazy rare 1991 interview (and freestyle) featuring GZA (then doing business as the Genius), Ol' Dirty Bastard (then going by Ason Unique), and RZA (then known as Prince Rakeem) on short-lived, local Bronx public access program, Rhythm & Soul."

Coldplay Covers Beastie Boys' "Fight For You Right" (Video)

Coldplay set their "love to the Beastie Boys" and MCA last night at their concert by covering the Beastie's "Fight For Your Right" (but in Coldplay's style). Hearing the crowd cheer for their tribute and joining in at times seriously brought a tear to my eye. The Beastie Boys music has touched so many people even Coldplay's crowd appreciated their efforts.

Rap Treats #93: Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique Demos

I wish I could hear demo versions of all my favourite albums. This is basically the blueprint to what would be come the final version of Paul's Boutique. Early versions of most of the album and some out takes make up the majority of these recordings. Even though these are demos, they are still dope as fuck. So dope that Banquet Records have pressed up a 7" Box Set of these recordings and some others.

Beastie Boys

Paul's Boutique Demos

1. Full Clout (Shake Your Rump)

2. 3 Minute Rule

3. Car Thief

4. Johnny Ryall #1

5. Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun

6. Egg Man

7. Sounds of Science

8. Johnny Ryall #2

9. Car Thief #2

10. 33% God

11. Hello Brooklyn

12. Stop That Train

Classic Material: Beastie Boys Performance from the Raising Hell Tour (1987)

This is dope. Courtesy of Tim Westwood, here is some rare footage from the 1986 Raising Hell Tour's London stop that features the Beastie Boys performing with LL Cool J, Whodini & Run-DMC partying on stage with them. The performance features crowd surfing, fighting, and bottles thrown in front of a hostile crowd.

Beastie Boys - Grand Royal (Mixtape)

Mick Boogie's latest mixtape full of rare, remixed, live and classic Beastie Boys records.

Hit Mick's spot up HERE for more details.

Beastie Boys

Mick Boogie - Grand Royal (Mixtape)

1. Mick Boogie & Intro

2. The Skills To Pay The Bills (Original Version)

3. The Vibes

4. Time To Get Ill (Live Remix Version)

5. Sure Shot (Nardone Large Professor Remixes)

6. Jimmy James (Original Version)

7. Four Fly Guys (feat. Hurricane)

8. Intergalactic (Original 94 Version)

9. Root Down (Free Zone Mix)

10. Get It Together (Buck-Wild Remix)

11. In A World Gone Mad (Original Mix)

12. Negotiation Limerick File (Handsome Boy Modelling School Mix)

13. Alive

14. Hey Ladies (Paul Nice Remix)

15. Dope Little Song

16. Shake Your Rump (Madlib Remix)

17. Stand Together (Live At French’s Tavern, Sydney, Australia)

18. The Maestro (Live Version)

19. The Sounds Of Science

20. Gratitude (Live @ Budokan)

21. Pass The Mic Part 2

22. Stop That Train (3-Way Mix)

23. Spam (feat. Milk Dee)

24. So What ‘Cha Want (Butt Naked Soul Assassin Remixes)

25. Sabotage (Live Version)

26. Beastie Revolution

27. Honky Rink (Previously Unreleased)

28. Benny And The Jets (Live feat. Biz Markie)

29. Netty’s Girl

Rap Treats #92: Beastie Boys - Interview Picture Disc (1987)

Here is the audio from this UK picture disc released back in '87. No music, just an interview with the Beastie Boys at the height of the Licensed To Ill insanity. Their Ricky Powell story is hilarious. Pretty funny interview. The Beastie's are obviously clowning hard. They don't really get serious until they start talking about their fans.

Beastie Boys

Interview Picture Disc

(Baktabak Records)

Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill (Original Version)

This was originally posted as a Rap Treat almost 4 years ago (#11), but we had to bring it back for today. This is said to be the original version of Licensed To Ill. "I'm Down" is the track that was cut from the album. Some songs have slightly different lyrics, different ending, or different adlibs.

Beastie Boys

Licensed To Ill (Original Version)

1. Rhymin' & Stealin'

(extra dialogue on end)

2. The New Style

3. She's Crafty

4. I'm Down (Beatles cover)

(unreleased track, deleted at last minute)

5. Posse In Effect

6. Fight For Your Right

7. No Sleep Till Brooklyn

(different lyrics in spots, fade out is longer)

8. Paul Revere

9. Brass Monkey

10. Hold It Now, Hit It

(different ending)

11. Girls

12. Slow And Low

(extra lyrics)

13. Time To Get Ill

14. Fight For Your Right #2

(different lyrics, extra verses, guitars are louder, effects on vocals)

15. The Scenario

(unreleased track, deleted at last minute)

MCA R.I.P. (August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012)

"Born and bred Brooklyn - U.S.A.

They all me Adam Yauch - but I'm M.C.A.

Like a lemon to a lime - a lime to a lemon

I sip the def ale with all the fly women"

This is so sad. Adam Yauch passed away today. MCA and the Beastie Boys, along with Run DMC, LL, and the whole Def Jam movement, were responsible for sparking my love of Hip-Hop. Both Licenced To Ill and Paul's Boutique are among my all time favourite albums. Another legend gone. Cancer's a bitch.

Z-Trip does the Beastie Boys and MCA justice in his mega mix below.

Essential listening for today.

Beatsie Boys

Z-Trip - All-Access Beastie Boys Mega Mix