Records: Audio Two - What More Can I Say 12"s

"Top Billin'" is easily one of my favorite jams of all time (even though there are about 50 songs I say that about) and it's just one of those records that every Hip-Hop head knows word for word. The only other record I can think of that gets crowd participation like the video below is probably "La-Di-Da-Di". Who needs a hype man when you have a record like this in your catalogue? Anyways, after seeing the video it made me go back and listen to my Audio Two records which made me throw this post up - all the Audio Two 12"s from their first album What More Can I Say? (minus "I Don't Care" - if you got it please send!)

Audio Two/The Alliance

Flip-Flop Mini Album

(First Priority)

A1 Audio Two - "I Like Cherries"

A2 Audio Two - "Chillin"

A3 Audio Two - "The Freshest Slowest Jam"

B1 The Alliance - "Where's The Fellas"

B2 The Alliance - "We Got The Beat Part II (Rough, Rough)"

B3 The Alliance - "Why Oh Girl"

Side A produced by Nat Robinson and Kirk Robinson

Side B produced by Eric Cole and Freddie Byrd

Audio Two

"Make It Funky" b/w "Top Billin'" 12"

(First Priority)

A1 "Make It Funky"

B1 "Make It Funky"

B2 "Top Billin'"

Produced by Audio Two and Daddy-O

Audio Two

"Top Billin'" Remixes 12"

(First Priority)

A1 "Top Billin'" (More Bass)

A2 "Top Billin'" (Teddy Ted Mix) (No Half Steppin')

A3 "Top Billin'" (808 Style)

B1 "Top Billin'" (Original)

B2 "Top Billin'" (Acapella)

B3 "The Freshest Slowest Jam"

Produced by Audio Two and Daddy-O

Audio Two

"Hickeys Around My Neck" 12"

(First Priority)

A1 "Hickeys Around My Neck" (LP Version)

A2 "Hickeys Around My Neck" (Soul Shock Mix)

A3 "Hickeys Around My Neck" (Uptown Mix)

B1 "Hickeys Around My Neck" (Audio Two Mix)

B2 "Hickeys Around My Neck" (El Bravador Mix)

B3 "Milk Does The Body Good"

Produced by Audio Two

Audio Two

"Many Styles" 12"

(First Priority)

A1 "Many Styles" (LP Version)

A2 "The Questions" (Remix)

B1 "Many Styles" (Street Dub)

B2 "The Questions" (Audio Two Dub)

Produced by Audio Two

Audio Two

"Top Billin'" (Clark Kent Remix) 12"

(First Priority)

A1 "Top Billin'" (Clark Kent Super Mix)

A2 "Top Billin'" (Clark Kent Super Mix)

B1 "Top Billin'"

Produced by Audio Two and Daddy-O

BONUS Audio Two:

Milk Dee performing "Top Billin'" at the Video Music Box 25th Anniversary bash.

Records: Biz Markie - Goin' Off 12"s

Nobody beats the Biz! The Juice Crew's Biz Markie is one of the original characters in Hip-Hop. For real, I can't think of another artist that compares to him. The dude rapped about doo doo, picking his nose, rapping on the toilet, liking a girl who dissed him for her "friend", and all kinds of other bugged out shit during an era when bravado on the mic was what made an MC. He even made a hit record using the jingle from an electronic store commercial (check the Wiz commercial below). His debut album Goin' Off couldn't have been more appropriately titled. Add to all that the fact he had the most retarded dance and had everybody doing the "Biz" and I challenge you to think of another artist that was on his own shit like Biz Markie in the late 80's and early 90's. Here are all the singles from Biz's first album. Like I said, nobody beats the BIZ!!

Biz Markie

Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz EP (1986)

(Prism Records)

A1 "Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz"

A2 "The Biz Dance"

A3 "They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa"

B1 "A One, Two"

B2 "The Biz Dance" (Dub Version)

B3 "Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz" (Instrumental)

Produced by Marley Marl

Biz Markie

"Nobody Beats The Biz" 12" (1987)

(Prism Records)

A1 "Nobody Beats The Biz"

B1 "Nobody Beats The Biz" (Dub Version)

Produced by Marley Marl

Biz Markie

"Pickin' Boogers" 12" (1987)

(Prism Records)

A1 "Pickin' Boogers"

B2 "Pickin' Boogers" (Dub)

Produced by Marley Marl

Biz Markie

"Biz Is Goin' Off" 12" (1988)

(Cold Chillin' Records)

A1 "Biz Is Goin' Off" (12" Vocal Remix)

A2 "The Do Do" (Bonus Beats)

B1 "Biz Is Goin' Off" (Dub)

Produced by Marley Marl

Biz Markie

"This Is Something For The Radio" 12" (1988)

(Cold Chillin' Records)

A1 "This Is Something For The Radio" (Rap Remix)

B1 "This Is Something For The Radio" (Dub)

B2 "This Is Something For The Radio" (Dub-Appella)

Produced by Marley Marl

Biz Markie

"Vapors" Remix 12" (1988)

(Cold Chillin' Records)

A1 "Vapors" (Remix)

B1 "Vapors" (Dub)

Produced by Marley Marl

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

"A Touch Of Jazz" 12" (1987)

(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

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)

"I Need A Beat" 12" (1984)

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)

"Rock Hard" 12" (1985)

A1 "Rock Hard"

A2 "Party's Getting Rough"

B1 "Beastie Groove"

B2 "Beastie Groove" (Instrumental)

Produced by Rick Ruben & Beasties

Jazzy Jay (DJ003)

"Def Jam" 12" (1985)

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)

"Drum Machine" 12" (1985)

A1 "Drum Machine"

A2 "Drum Machine" (Mini Jerk Edit)

B1 "Drum Machine" ((That) Psycho Dust Version)

Produced by Burzootie

LL Cool J (DJ005)

"I Want You" 12" (1985)

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)

"This Is It" 12" (1985)

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)

"It's The Beat" 12" (1985)

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

"It's Yours" 12" (1984)

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)

1. Girls

2. Dope Fiend

3. Only The Astronaut Knows The Truth

Records: Nas - Illmatic 12"s

Nasty Nas is the illest. For real. Illmatic is easily in my top 5 albums of all time. Every 12" off Illmatic is classic as fuck. On top of that, even the records that weren't released as a single are classic as fuck. I'm not sure there is a more perfect album in Hip-Hop music than Nas' debut. Here are all the 12"s off Illmatic, including the Japan only release of all the DJ Premier produced records that came out in 2008.

Nas

"Halftime" 12" (1992)

(Ruffhouse/Columbia Records)

A1 "Halftime" (Radio Edit)

A2 "Halftime" (LP Version)

A3 "Halftime" (LP Version Instrumental)

B1 "Halftime" (Butcher Remix)

B2 "Halftime" (Butcher Instrumental)

Produced by Large Professor

Remix produced by Joe "The Butcher" Nicola

Nas

"It Ain't Hard To Tell" 12" (1994)

(Columbia Records)

A1 "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (Main Mix)

B1 "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (Instrumental)

B2 "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (A Cappella)

Produced by Large Professor

Nas

"It Ain't Hard To Tell" Remix (1994)

(Columbia Records)

A1 "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (Remix)

B1 "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (Remix Instrumental)

Remix produced by Large Professor

Nas feat. AZ

"Life's A Bitch" 12" (1994)

(Columbia Records)

A1 "Life's A Bitch" (Radio)

A2 "Life's A Bitch" (Dirty)

A3 "Life's A Bitch" (Instrumental)

B1 "Life's A Bitch" (Arsenal Radio Mix)

B2 "Life's A Bitch" (Arsenal Dirty Mix)

B3 "Life's A Bitch" (Arsenal Instrumental Mix)

Produced by L.E.S.

Remix produced by Def Jef & Meach Wells

Nas

"One Love" 12" (1994)

(Columbia Records)

A1 "One Love" (Album Version)

A2 "One Love" (Radio Edit)

A3 "One Love" (Album Instrumental)

A4 "One Love" (Acappella)

B1 "One Love" (LG Main Mix)

B2 "One Love" (LG Radio Edit)

B3 "One Love" (LG Instrumental)

B4 "One Love" (One L Main Mix)

B5 "One Love" (One L Radio Edit)

B6 "One Love" (One L Instrumental)

Produced by Q-Tip

B1, B2, B3 remix produced by The LG Experience

B4, B5, B6 remix produced by Godfather Don & Victor Padilla

Nas

"The World Is Yours" 12" (1994)

(Columbia Records)

A1 "The World Is Yours"

A2 "The World Is Yours" (Instrumental)

B1 "The World Is Yours" (Tip Mix)

B2 "The World Is Yours" (Tip Mix Instrumental)

Produced by Pete Rock

Remix produced by Q-Tip

Nas

"Memory Lane" 12" (2008)

(Ill Will Records)

A1 "Memory Lane"

A2 "Memory Lane" (Instrumental)

B1 "N.Y. State Of Mind"

B2 "Represent"

Produced by DJ Premier

Records: The Pharcyde - A Bizarre Ride To The Pharcyde 12"s

Easily one of the most influential albums of the 90's, The Pharcyde's Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde produced a grip of classic 12"s. Not only that, the 4 MCs from South Central Los Angeles helped created a movement that was more Tribe and De La than N.W.A. and Ice-T giving the westcoast a sound that wasn't strictly gang related. The Pharcyde were my shit back in the day. In my books this is a 10 out of 10, 2 thumbs up, 5 Mic classic album. As usual, here are all the 12"s off Bizarre Ride including the promo only "Soul Flower" 12", the UK 12" of "Passing Me By", and the "Otha Fish" 7" that has "Pharcyde Live At Dodger Stadium" which is a dope live recording of The Pharcyde at the height of their popularity.

The Pharcyde

"Ya Mama" 12" (1992)

(Delicious Vinyl)

A1 Ya Mama (Murphy Mix)

A2 Ya Mama (Cosby Mix)

B1 I'm That Type Of Nigga

B2 Soul Flower (Remix)

Produced by J-Swift

The Pharcyde

"Passin' Me By" b/w "Pork" 12" (1993)

(Delicious Vinyl)

A1 Passin' Me By (Video Remix)

A2 Passin' Me By (Video Instrumental)

A3 Passin' Me (Acapella)

B1 Pork (OG Version)

B2 Pork (Cosby Edit)

B3 Pork (Instrumental)

Produced by J-Swift Produced by L.A. Jay

The Pharcyde

"Passin' Me By" UK 12" (1993)

(Delicious Vinyl)

A1 Passin' Me By (Video Remix)

A2 Passin' Me By (Fly As A Pie Remix)

B1 Passin' Me By (Brixton Flavour 12")

B2 Ya Mama (Remix) (4:01)

A1 Produced by J. Swift

A2 Remixed by LA Jay

B1 Remixed by Blacksmith

B2 Remixed by The Bakerboyz

The Pharcyde

"Otha Fish" 12" (1993)

(Delicious Vinyl)

A1 Otha Fish (Video Edit)

A2 Otha Fish (L.A. Jay Remix)

A3 Otha Fish (Video Edit Instrumental)

B1 Otha Fish (The Angel Remix)

B2 Passin' Me By (Fly As Pie Mix)

Produced by L.A. Jay

B1 Remixed by Tre Hardson

B2 - Remixed by L.A. Jay

The Pharcyde

"Otha Fish" b/w

"Pharcyde Live At Dodger Stadium" 7" (1993)

(Delicious Vinyl)

A1 Otha Fish

B1 Pharcyde Live At Dodger Stadium

Produced by L.A. Jay

The Pharcyde

"Soul Flower" 12" (1993)

(Delicious Vinyl)

A1 SoulFlower (The Brand New Heavies Version)

A2 SoulFlower (The Brand New Heavies Intrumental)

B1 SoulFlower (Album Version)

B2 SoulFlower (Dogs B*ll*cks Remix)

B3 SoulFlower (2 Tha 3 Mix)

Produced by The Brand New Heavies

The Pharcyde

"4 Better Or 4 Worse" 12" (1993)

(Delicious Vinyl)

A1 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Interlude)

A2 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Vocal)

A3 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Instrumental)

B1 Pack The Pipe (Interlude)

B2 Pack The Pipe (Vocal)

B3 Return Of The B-Boy (Interlude)

Produced by J-Swift

Records: El Michels Affair - "C.R.E.A.M." 7"

This shit is pretty fresh. If you're not up on El Michels Affair, they are a Brooklyn funk band (and sometimes Wu-Tang's backing band) who put out the "C.R.E.A.M." b/w "Glaciers Of Ice" 7inch a few years back. They basically take Wu-Tang tracks and give them the live instrumental funk treatment. FatBeats just released their Enter The 37th Chamber LP where they reinterperate a grip of Wu-Tang classics. Here is the the "C.R.E.A.M." 7inch as well as a recording of Wu-Tang and El Michels Affair performing "Criminology". WU-TANG!

El Michels Affair

"C.R.E.A.M." b/w "Glaciers Of Ice" (2006)

(Truth & Soul Records)

A1 - "C.R.E.A.M."

B1 - "Glaciers Of Ice"

Records: BIGGIE SMALLS - Ready To Die 12"s

To cap off B.I.G. day it's only right to hit you with the Ready To Die 12"s. There isn't much more that can be said about Christopher Wallace that hasn't been said already. He's one of the best to ever do it. Hip-Hop hasn't been the same since March 9th, 1997.

BIGGIE SMALLS is STILL the ILLEST.

BIGGIE SMALLS

"Juicy" b/w "Unbelievable"

(Bad Boy Records)

A1 "Juicy" (Dirty Mix)

A2 "Unbelievable"

A3 "Juicy" (Remix)

B1 "Juicy" (Instrumental)

B2 "Juicy" (Remix Instrumental)

B3 "Unbelievable" (Instrumental)

"Juicy" produced by Poke (Trackmasterz) and Puff Daddy

"Juicy" (Remix) produced by Pete Rock

"Unbelievable" produced by DJ Premier

BIGGIE SMALLS

"Big Poppa" b/w "Warning"

(Bad Boy Records)

A1 "Big Poppa" (Club Mix)

A2 "Warning" (Club Mix)

A3 "Big Poppa" (Instrumental)

B1 "Big Poppa" (Radio Edit)

B2 "Warning" (Radio Edit)

B3 "Warning" (Instrumental)

"Big Poppa" produced by Carl "Chucky" Thompson & Puff Daddy

"Warning" produced by Easy Mo Bee

BIGGIE SMALLS

"One More Chance" b/w "The What"

(Bad Boy Records)

A1 "One More Chance / Stay With Me" (Radio Edit)

A2 "One More Chance" (Hip Hop Mix)

A3 "One More Chance / Stay With Me" (Radio Edit 2)

A4 "One More Chance" (Hip Hop Instrumental)

B1 "One More Chance" (Hip Hop Radio Edit)

B2 "The What" feat. Method Man (Radio Edit)

B3 "One More Chance / Stay With Me" (Instrumental)

"One More Chance" produced by Rashad Smith & Puff Daddy

"The What" produced by Easy Mo Bee

BIGGIE SMALLS

"Big Poppa" Remix b/w "Who Shot Ya?"

(Bad Boy Records)

A1 "Big Poppa" (Radio Edit)

A2 "Big Poppa" (Remix) (Radio Edit)

A3 "Who Shot Ya?" (Radio Edit)

A4 "Big Poppa" (Remix) (Instrumental)

B1 "Big Poppa" (Club Mix)

B2 "Big Poppa" (Remix) (Club Mix)

B3 "Who Shot Ya?" (Club Mix)

B4 "Who Shot Ya?" (Instrumental)

"Big Poppa" produced by Chucky Thompson& Puff Daddy

"Big Poppa" (Remix) produced by Jermaine Dupri & Manuel Seal

"Who Shot Ya?" produced by Nashiem Myrick & Puff Daddy

BONUS BIGGIE:

This isn't rare but it's dope as hell. This is Biggie freestyling in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn at the age of 17. I think (actually more guessing) that this is the battle scene that they tried recreating in the movie Notorious.