Rare BIGGIE SMALLS Documentary (Circa 1995)

We'll always love Big Poppa.

World Supreme Hip Hop - The Freshco & Miz Story (Documentary)

What happens when a dope South West Philly DJ hooks up with a raw Brooklyn MC? Freshco and Miz, that's what. Shortly after the duo won the 1989 New Music Seminar MC and DJ categories, they paired up to release the classic Tommy Boy Records 12" "We Don't Play," bw/ Ain't You Freshco" and "Now You Know." The highly talented pair seemed poised for stardom, but soon disappeared from the rap game. Produced in 2010, this documentary tells the story of how Freshco and Miz hooked and shook the hip-hop landscape, if only for a short period. The film includes footage of the famous NMS routines that clinched the two victory and features cameos by MC Serch, MC Lyte, Leaders of the New School, Dres from Black Sheep, Video Music Box's Ralph McDaniels, Guru (RIP), DJ Red Alert, and many more. So never mind what's on Netflix tonight, check out this documentary and be taken back to a time when skills paid the bills, or at least netted you a sweet championship belt.

EQ - Swellsville LP (Unreleased 1991)

A few months ago Kilo-Cee gave me a copy of an album that had been on my "Want" list since the early 90's. The album is by THE group that sparked my love for Hip-Hop music from my own city. The album is by THE group that turned a hard to please Hip-Hop head into a fan. The album is by THE group that gave me new meaning to the phrase "It ain't where you're from, it's where your at!" 

The album is Swellsville by EQ the Lyrical Assault Team - Vancouver's original Hip-Hop crew.

EQ is The Incredible Ease and his partner Quaze, Seattle's DJ King Otto, and later Kilo-Cee who would be added to the line up to handle DJ duties north of the border as well as the majority of scratches on Swellsville. EQ first caught my attention when they tore the house down opening for Public Enemy at The Orpheum. Then they did the same when they were the special guests at UBC's DJ Sound Wars. Add to that they they had a video playing on Much Music (a first by a vancouver Hip-Hop group) and they were instant Hip-Hop heroes. 

Ease & Quaze are responsible for Vancity's first Hip-Hop classic with 1990's "They Can't Cope", which is the b-side to EQ's debut 12" "Put Yo Body In It". Swellsville was supposed to be the album that followed, but due to industry rule #4080 it never saw the light of day. A handful of cassettes made it to the group but that was it. If you never got your hands on one of those tapes, which is pretty much everybody on the planet, then you never had a chance to hear Swellsville. It is a familiar story, but an all too real one that kept the world from hearing an ill fucking album that should at very least be recognized as a Canadian classic. Maestro Fresh Wes and Main Source aside, I put Swellsville up against anything released in the early 90's - Dream Warriors, Devon, MCJ & Cool G, Kish, Ground Control, Organized Rhyme or any of the other rappers I saw on Much Music's Soul In The City "Rap" specials back in the day. The production on Swellsville can give Maestro and Main Source a run for their money too. Straight up. The beats are hard as hell.

In a 2007 article for the Canadian Rap Music blog Living Underwater, Vancity OG Birdapres summed up Swellsville by saying "Much could be said about the potential impact of this missing classic, and what could have been. To hear it is to understand. No Hip House or love songs. No clumsy attempts at pop accessibility. Hard beats, fresh rhymes and scratching. The sort of thing that heads in 1991 would have latched onto gratefully."

He is 100% correct.

With the recent passing of our friend Edwin Kohn, aka The Incredible Ease, it feels like the perfect time for Swellsville to see the light of day (it is far overdue actually). Anybody that has ever had the pleasure of meeting Ease knows what a cool cat he was. He lived and breathed this Hip-Hop shit. Whether it was Ease and Kilo every Tuesday at Midnite taking over the airwave with the legendary Krispy Biskut show, or him rocking the mic with EQ (or on the solo tip), or hosting concerts and parties, The Incredible Ease has influenced and educated us all. Rest In Peace Homeboy.

EQ
Swellsville

1. Come Alive
2. Step Up
3. Play The Back
4. Help A Bruva Out
5. Late 4 The Studio
6. Bring It On
7. Serious
8. Inner Thoughts
9. Swellsville
10. Funky Oasis
11. Hostile
12. Freestyle
13. Let It Be Known
14. Come Alive (King Otto Remix)


EQ
"They Can't Cope"

1. Mellow Mix
2. Video Mix

Commercial Rap: Run DMC & Beastie Boys "Together Forever Tour" TV Commercial (1987)

Love this kind of stuff.

Happy Birthday Hip-Hop!

Happy 40th Hip-Hop. Salute Kool Herc!

For those wondering, this is the flyer for the very first party that Kool Herc threw at 1520 Sedgwick Ave aka the birthplace of Hip-Hop. This means August 11th, 1973 was the day Hip-Hop was born. Today was a good day.

25 Year Anniversary of Public Enemy's Seminal Album

In the hot, hot summer of 1988 Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back could be heard in jeeps, boom boxes, and airwaves from coast to coast. It featured sample-rich Bomb Squad beats, powerful lyrics, the stark contrast of Chuck D and Flava Flav's vocals, and the introduction to what later became a standard convention on rap LPs, the interlude. Although it's the kind of album that is best listened to from front to back, here is a taste (or a reminder for those that remember the fury it leashed 25 years ago). 

Classic Material: Run DMC Live at the Ritz NYC (1985)

We've been away for a while here at Nation of Millions, but we're back with some serious heat. Before Run DMC and Jam Master Jay dropped Raising Hell (1986) and turned the entire music world on its head, they were already two albums deep and seasoned veterans of the stage. Check out this 30 minute performance at The Ritz in NYC recorded for MTV. Songs include "It's Like That," "Rock Box," "King of Rock," and even a preview of their third album in "It's Tricky."

Classic Material: Wu-Tang Clan Live at The Fever (1993)

Wu-Tang Clan at The Fever a couple weeks after 36 Chambers dropped. Dope. Shout out to Tony Touch for the footage. Part 1 above, part 2 below.

LL Cool J doing an air band to LL Cool J (circa '89)

I swear we dig new music here at N.O.M. too, it's just that these vintage clips are gold and you can find the newest of the new daily at about 1 dillion other sites. So, with that said, here is LL Cool J doing an air band to "Big Ol Butt" by LL Cool J! The gem is the very end when LL reads a list of words that don't rhyme. 
Classic material!

Rakim interview with Red Bull Music Academy (Long!)

Rakim recently sat on the RBMA couch with journalist/DJ "Chairman Mao" for an epic interview. The R speaks on his career from its earliest days in Wyandanch, Long Island, to meeting Eric B., and recording their many classics. He even breaks down the lyrics in "I Know You Got Soul," "The Ghetto," and others
 Do the knowledge.

Questlove vs. Nardwaur 2013

An epic 45+ minutes Nardwuar vs. Questlove interview above, and the flip the script Pharrell vs. Nardwuar below that sees Nardwuar get the Nardwaur treatment from Skateboard P.

Beastie Boys Lost Interview With Animation (1985)

Blank on Blank is a multimedia non-profit whose mission is to archive unheard interviews and add animation resulting in a new audio/visual experience for the viewer. Here are the Beastie Boys from a 1985 interview. This is pre Licensed to Ill, therefore, pre huge commercial success. Listen closely for some eerily prophetic statements from the terrible trio. And go to www.blankonblank.org for more. 

Demos: Kanye West Demo Tape (2001)

Even though most of our download links are dead until we are able to re-up them (process started), we are going to keep hitting you with treats. This one just turned up on the interweb a couple of days ago. If the story that goes along with it is correct, then this is the demo tape the 'Ye was passing around to labels before he signed his deal with Roc-a-fella. The highlight for me is the original version of "Jesus Walks". Enjoy!

Kanye West

Demo Tape (2001)

Nice & Smooth "No Delayin" (1989*)

"No Delayin" is a cut off of Nice & Smooth's self-titled debut LP. Although it wasn't released as a single, that didn't stop the duo from shooting this video years later - proving to the world that it's never too late to create a video for a classic. 

"You Know What I'm Sayin'???"

Out Of Order... kind of.

Looks like all the download links on NationOfMillions have been shut down by the fine folks over at DivShare. Anything posted before April 20th has a dead link. We've already started the process of re-upping all the Rap Treats, 12inch's, Demos, and Mixtapes.

Stay tuned.

Demos: Tha Alkaholiks aka E.S.P.

This had eluded me for a couple years for some reason, but no longer. Tha Alkaholiks demo tape recorded when the crew was known as Educated Street Poets (E.S.P.). Dope.

Tha Alkaholiks aka E.S.P.

Demo Tape

Classic Material: Gang Starr EPK (Circa 1990)

Love this kind of stuff. Guru R.I.P.

Maestro Fresh Wes - "Let Your Backbone Slide" (Club Mix) 1989

To our non-Canadian readers, Maestro Fresh Wes's "Let Your Backbone Slide" is our "Rapper's Delight," "Sucker MC's," and "Raw" all rolled into one. Released in 1989, the song, and the subsequent album Symphony in Effect, broke through the then-fledgling Canadian hip-hop underground and became a massive hit on radio. Its video was also in heavy rotation on Much Music. In short, "Let Your Backbone Slide" influenced a generation of Canadian hip-hop artists and forced record labels to take notice. The album and single version are easy enough to find, however, an alternate mix available only on the 12" exists, and is arguably the better of the two. 

You decide...

Classic Material: LL Cool J Performing "I'm Bad" Circa 1987

LL circa 1887 performing "I'm Bad". This was record of UK TV and the clip ends with LL getting an ear full from his Grandma. Priceless.

MC EZ & Troup "Just Rhymin" - Fresh Records (1988)

 

Most old school heads have probably heard "Get Retarded" from this elusive 12" released in 1988. However, the song with the "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom"s was the B-side (or Y-side, according to Fresh Records) to "Just Rhymin" - a dope track unto itself. MC EZ aka Craig Mack would not drop the album he promised in the outro until he joined the Bad Boy camp 5 years later. Brentwood in effect.

Classic Material: Run DMC "King Of Rock" LIVE on the VMA's

This is the best video ever. For a couple of reasons. 

Run DMC on the VMA's in 1986 with the Beastie Boys introducing them.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth + Questlove LIVE in Vancouver!

A couple of ill shows n the next couple of week at Bar None Vancouver. The first is Pete Rock & CL Smooth performing their masterpiece Mecca & The Soul Brother in its entirety! A week after that we have Questlove here for a RBMA Q&A and DJ set. Tickets for Pete Rock & CL can be copped HERE, and Questlove tickets HERE.

"Rap Quotes" NYC Street Art Project

This is dope. I'd jack these in a heartbeat though, I'm sure they are already gone. If not, will somebody from NYC go grab me one? Thanks.

Crate Diggers - J Dilla

Not much else needs to be said. Enjoy.

Classic Material: Jive Records Showcase (Circa 1987)

This is a nice find. Video of this Jive Records showcase has been floating around for years but only in clips.This is the extended version with 37 plus minutes of footage! In order of appearance are Steady B, Boogie Down Productions, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, and Kool Moe Dee.

Kendrick Lamar feat. Jay-Z "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" Remix

I just spent a week in Austin at the SXSW music conference/festival/party. This song was the talk of the conference when Young Guru debuted it a party that him and Just Blaze were playing. The illest MC of today gets the illest MC ever (in my opinion) to jump on the remix of his next single. New verses from K. Dot too. While we are on the topic of SXSW, hit my Instagram HERE for the flicks. That Prince x A Tribe Called Quest show can't be topped. It's all downhill for me from here as far as concerts go.

Kendrick Lamar feat. Jay-Z
"Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" Remix

Classic Material: 2Pac & Biggie Smokin' and Drinkin' and eventually Rappin' (circa 94)

Filmed the day this photo was taken, here is some footage of Pac & Biggie, Biggie & Pac hanging out and being friends. This was obviously pre beef, a much better time.

Classic Material: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - Live in Germany (circa 1983)

Fantastic, clear live footage of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five 

in Germany, circa 1983. Here they are performing "The Message." This is the same year Run-DMC's "Sucker MC's" came out which signalled a changing of the guard in rap style, fashion, and music. GMF and company would slowly fade from the hip-hop spotlight, but would return as old school hip-hop would experience a renaissance years later. The Bronx sextet was rightly inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Flash's DJ career also took an upswing as he regularly tours to highly appreciative audiences. 

SXSW: The Freshest & Friends Showcase 2013

If you are heading to SXSW next week, then I highly suggest that you check my friends party! All info above.

Marley Marl and MC Shan - Marley Marl Scratch (1985)

I've never seen a video for this Juice Crew classic until now. The odd thing is the Pop-Up Video-like text mentioning Shan as producer of Snow's "Informer," which wasn't released until 1992. Enjoy this short and sweet Queensbridge clip.

"Marley, can we hear your funky fresh scratchin', again?"

Classic Material: Random 90's Hip-Hop TV Clips

This is pretty cool. Somebody took the time to go through all their old video tapes of random 90's cable access Rap shows (and Yo! MYV Raps) and put them together on one 7 minute video. The highlight is most def a bare foot ODB standing on the block with Sunz Of Man waiting for some dude named Panther to bring him that "get high" while going on about how there are good white devils and bad white devils and how he is for the children even though children are bad bastards just like he used to be and a bunch of other shit that made no sense. 90's Rap TV at its finest!

Demos: A Tribe Called Quest (Snippets)

This is just something for the Tribe heads. Even though it is just snippets, it is a dope listen to hear some pre record deal Tribe as well as a couple of unreleased songs. Somebody has this demo tape, and if you are that person lets talk! 

1) Description Of A Fool
2) Pubic Enemy
3) Native Tongue (Unreleased)
4) Left My Wallet In El Segundo
5) Dust (My Pal) (Unreleased)

Groove Music: The Art and Culture of the Hip Hop DJ

Hip-hop has slowly gathered steam as a topic of study in universities around the globe. However, most of the literature focuses on the lyrics, and not the music itself. Mark Katz, an associate professor of Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has written a book on not just hip-hop, not just DJing, but hip-hop DJing specifically, and the result is nothing short of brilliant. It is a thorough and in-depth examination of the DJs centrality in hip-hop and Katz digs deeper than others before him to archive the roots, major players, innovations, and the massive cultural significance of hip-hop DJs. Katz documents Kool Herc's first party, the early battle scene between DJs in the Bronx, and even dedicates several pages to the significance of the often scratched "aaaah" and "fresh!" samples from Fab 5 Freddy's "Change Le Beat."  Interviews include GrandWizzard Theodore, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmixer D.ST, DJ Cash Money, DJ Steve Dee, DJ Q Bert, DJ Craze, Rob Swift, and countless others. It's a must have.

Michael Jordan: Gotta Be The Shoes

Happy Birthday Mike.

Rap Treat #103: Big Daddy Kane b/w Ultramagnetic MCs (Rare)

Once again the wonderful world of the inter web comes through with something for the Rap Nerds that was unexpected, but most appreciated. I'm not sure who is responsible for this (and neither are the folks at TROY where I jacked it from), but somebody needs to high five that MF. A while back, a couple of unreleased 80's Ultra acetates popped up on ebay which saw one of them go for $3000 f'n dollars! That song was "Simple Metaphore" and it has now popped up on bootleg wax that was limited to 100 copies. Added to the bootleg is a couple of Kane songs - one from '91 - that have been floating around the net (but these are the tag less/no annoying DJ yelling all over it versions) and the other Ultra acetate. Again, whoever got their hands on one of those acetates and pressed this up deserve a rap blog gold metal. Same with the dude over at TROY who got his hands on one of the 100 copies and ripped it to mp3 for the rest of us. Salute!

Big Daddy Kane b/w Ultramagnetic MCs

Bootleg 12"

A1. Big Daddy Kanye "Sing My Song"

A2. Big Daddy Kanye "Give A Demonstration"

B1. Ultramagnetic MCs "Simple Metaphore"

B2. Ultramagnetic MCs "Ain't It Good To You" remix

"Seanwuar"? Sean Price interviews Pharoahe Monche

Duck Down's Sean Price pays homage to interview king Nardwuar the Human Serviette. Yes, you read that correctly.

Slum Village Soundcheck - J Dilla, Baatin, T3

I first saw this video about two years ago on youtube and it was promptly removed (?), but it lives on at ihiphop.com. All I have to say is this is some interesting footage. The recording industry isn't all glamour and glitz, sometimes you have to endure some downtime, such as making sure your sound is tight for a performance. As fans know, Jay Dee often removed himself from the spotlight to concentrate on his beats, so watching him with band mates Baatin and T3 (Que D is there too) working behind the scenes provides a small window into the meticulous nature of his work ethic. Peep the dual MPCs... "it don't get no liver than this." Rest in peace J Dilla and Baatin. And thank you.

J Dilla "Dewitt To Do It" + The Lost Scrolls Release

Happy Birthday J Dilla! Okay, the legend's birthday is tomorrow, but this cannot wait. An official 10" EP release of some unreleased (sort of) Dilla tracks has been dropped. My favourite track is "Dewitt to Do It"- an alternate version of Welcome to Detroit's "Shake It Down." What follows are a couple of interludes (Dilla paying homage to Eric B. and Rakim) and the previously released "Yancey Boys" with Illa J and Frank Nitt. Can't wait for the vinyl? Cop it on itunes... OR, download it below.

J Dilla
"Dewitt To Do It"

J Dilla Tribute Mix by Mr. Rumble (aka Niel Scobie)

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome long time friend and Chief Blogger #1 Niel Scobie to the NationOfMillions.ca squad. Neil is the DJ professionally know as Mr. Rumble and he is also the DJ accurately known as one of the biggest Dilla heads that you will find. With that said, this is the perfect introduction to Niel Scobie... his legendary J Dilla Tribute Mix. This was recorded just days after Dilla passed away. Expect nothing but Dilla jems and Treats over the next few days. Niel's archives are deep. Turn it up!

J Dilla

Tribute Mix by Mr. Rumble (aka Neil Scobie)

Rap Treat #102: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Mixtape (1986)

Heads know... Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince were a two-man wrecking crew. Jeff's innovative cutting and scratching and the charismatic Fresh Prince's boisterous emcee-ing style were both unique and well-respected. This mix features the two pioneers trading cuts and rhymes throughout. There's also some live beats straight out of a TR-808 (or 909?). The link says 1985, but based on the instrumentals the duo use, I'd say 1986. Jeff won the New Music Seminar DJ battle in 1986, so perhaps this was recorded before that. 

Beats include Joe Ski-Love's "The Peewee Herman," Beastie Boys "Hold It Now, Hit It," and Whistle's "Just Buggin" among others. And Jazzy Jeff destroys LL's "Rock the Bells." Not the greatest quality but well worth the listen. Historic. Download the mix below.

DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince
Mixtape (1986)

Classic Material: LL Cool J Concert circa 1985

The year is 1985. The rapper is a 17 year old LL Cool J. The location is a school gymnasium somewhere in Maine. The crowd? Maybe the worst crowd in Hip-Hop history. Doesn't matter though, because this is video of a concert that a 17 year old LL Cool J gave in a hight school gym back in 1985! This footage falls under the "Where the fuck you find this?" category. Classic goods.

Classic Material: Ultramagnetic MC's Live in London (1990)

This one is courtesy of Tim Westwood. I can just imagine all the dope footage he has collected over the years. Watch this asap or recieve a Critical Beatdown!

thoseMFs feat. KAi Sky Walker, Tre Nyce, Snak The Ripper, SonReal & DJ Hedspin "Vancity Giants" (download)

Off the Vancity Giants 2 mixtape... Kai Sky Walker, Tre Nyce, Snak The Ripper, and SonReal on the mic... Kemo on the beat... DJ Hedspin on the cut... 
"VANCITY TOUCH" MFs!

"Vancity Touch" DJ Pack

1. Dirty
2. Radio
3. Instrumental
4. Acapella
5. DJ Edit

Watch: All City - Art In The Streets (circa 1983)

This is dope. Filmed in '83, this was meant to be a TV show but for whatever reason it never came to be. What we are left with, 30 years later, is a glimpse into Hip-Hop culture before it because mainstream america got a hold of it and pimped the shit out of it. This was posted on Youtube last week so it'll let the creators describe what you are about to see (don't sleep, like I said, this is DOPE).

"Director Henry Chalfant introduces his film All City (1983), which grew out of an idea to do a youth TV program about Hip Hop and other cultural phenomena of interest to young urbanites. The program was never realized, but the trailer grew into a portrait of the different elements of Hip Hop in the mid-80s. The venue is Fashion Moda, a popular art gallery on Third Avenue in the Bronx. There is a demonstration of Bboying, and Rap, followed by a discussion, hosted by Spank TC5, about art and culture with important graffiti artists of the time including Dondi, Butch, Mare and Brim. The video includes a montage of murals by Henry Chalfant and a Pop and Lock lesson by Mr. Wiggles. It features the young Bboy crew, VTB, The Very Tough Breakers."