Rap Treats #23: St. Ides Commercials

St. Ides had the freshest commercials back in the day, and they worked too because it made me drink St. Ides at one point in my life. And St. Ides tastes like shit. There weren't a whole lot of rappers endorsing products in the early 90's like today (except for Hammer) so these were always the dopest commercials on TV. This isn't the hardest comp to find (I think it's available in stores), but the commercials are classic so it had to go up.

St. Ides

Greatest Malt Liquor Hits

1. King Tee "St. Ides"

2. King Tee & DJ Pooh "Forty Ounce Fit For A King"

3. King Tee & DJ Pooh "Tha Bomb Malt Liquor"

4. King Tee & E-Swift "Do Ya Like St. Ides?"

5. King Tee "Do You Wanna Go To The Liquor Store?"

6. E-Swift & King Tee "Let's Have Some St. Ides"

7. Ice Cube & King Tee

8. Ice Cube, DJ Pooh & E-Swift "S.T. Crooked I.D.E"

9. Yo Yo & Cube "Femalt Liquor"

10. Ice Cube & Pooh "All I Want For Christmas"

11. Ice Cube "Jackin For Malt Liquor"

12. Ice Cube "We Don't Want No 8-ball"

13. Ice Cube "Wish They'd Come Up With A 12-Pak"

14. Cube & Pooh "Blind Fold Test"

15. Eric B & Rakim "Real Men's Drink"

16. Rakim "Get Some....."

17. Yo Yo & King Tee "You Need A Six-Pack"

18. EPMD & Ice Cube "East Meets West Malt Liquor"

19. Erick Sermon "40 Oz Or A Can"

20. Kool G Rap, DJ Pooh & Sir Jinx "Getta Grip, Take A Sip"

21. Geto Boys & Ice Cube "5th Ward/South Central Malt"

22. Geto Boys "My Malt's Playin' Tricks On Me"

23. Snoop Doggy Dogg "St. Ides In The LBC"

24. Warren G "When We Sippin' On Tha Brew"

25. Nate Dogg "Drank Anthem"

26. MC Eiht "The Brew Took Me Under"

27. Scarface "Drankin Toon"

28. Wu-Tang Clan "Shaolin Brew"

29. Snoop Doggy Dogg "Dogg Food N Drank"

30. Ice Cube "Crooked I For All Ages"

Rap Treats #22: Beastie Boys & RUN DMC Live (1987)

This is a super drunken recording of the Beastie Boys 'Licenced To Ill Tour' live in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Palladium on Feb 7th 1987. This was the height of the "Fight For Your Right To Party" era when the Beasties would get super drunk and completely bug out like a bunch of frat boys. What made this show extra dope was that the Beastie Boys brought out Run DMC as surprise guests. The sound quality is pretty doo dooish due to bootleg recording technologies in 1987 not being very advanced, but the recording is still very listenable.

Beastie Boys & Run DMC

"Live @ The Palladium in 1987"

1. DJ Hurricane Intro

2. Slow And Low

3. The New Style

4. She's Crafty

5. Time To Get Ill

6. She's On It

7. Paul Revere

8. Rhymin' And Stealin'

9. Posse In Effect

10. Brass Monkey

11. Hold It Now Hit It

12. No Sleep Till Brooklyn

13. My Adidas

14. It's Tricky

15. Walk This Way

16. Rockbox

17. Fight For Your Right

Rap Treats #21: Resident Alien/Prince Paul (1991)

The Resident Alien story goes like this. Hot off his success with De La Soul and 3rd Bass, Prince Paul was given a label deal by Russell Simmons (Rush Associated Labels/Columbia Records) which resulted in Dew Doo Man Records. Paul decided to grab 3 friends who didn't really rap and create a group called Resident Alien. Resident Alien released one 12inch which was well recieved by Hip-Hop heads, but not by mainstream heads. Frustrated at the fact Rush wasn't pushing their single, Paul decided he would raise his concerns with the label. Russell and Lyor wanted hits and Paul wanted to make a concept album so the result of that meeting was the Resident Alien album and the Dew Doo Man record label being scrapped altogether. So the label lasted one year and this album never seen the light of day. "Ohh The Dew Doo Man" was my shit back in the day. This might be Prince Paul's first concept album if you don't count 3 Feet High & Rising.

Resident Alien

It Takes A Nation Of Suckers To Let Us In

1. Intro

2. The Resident Alien

3. I Yam What I Yam

4. The Ox Tail, The Burger & Chic

5. Miss Lee

6. Shakey Ground

7. Ardicle Don

8. Horrorscope

9. Midtro

10. Ooh The Dew Doo Man

11. Mr. Boops

12. Alone

13. State Of Emergency

14. Are You Ready

15. We Na Play

16. Wanna Be (Russell)

17. Mother's Day

18. Third World

19. Extro

20. Welcome To America

Rap Treats #20: DJ Quik "The Red Tape" (1987)

DJ Quik is a legend in these parts (these parts being Nation Of Millions). He's made classic albums and produced classic songs, but somehow DJ Quik is still underrated. Dr. Dre had his crew (N.W.A.), Ice-T had his crew (Rhyme Syndicate), Cypress Hill had their crew (Soul Assassins), and DJ Quik had his crew. AMG, 2nd II None and Hi-C were the dudes who Quik came up with and eventually put on. They are also the MC's who Quik started out with making underground tapes in the late 80's. The Red Tape is one of those tapes. Not only is The Red Tape what DJ Quik got his record deal off of, but it was also responsible for setting off his beef with MC Eiht of Compton's Most Wanted due to the song "Real Doe". The fact that Quik was a Blood and Eiht was a Crip didn't help matters either. The tape featured Quik's hit "Born And Raised In Compton" as well as a bunch of lyrics that would eventually end up on official releases by the crew.

The Red Tape is the most popular of DJ Quik's underground tapes and it supposedly came out in 1987, but because I didn't get it until many years later I can't be sure about that. There are a few things listening to the tape that makes me think it was released a few years later. For starters, on one song they start saying "go LL, go LL" and then go into the "Jinglin' Baby" hook. LL released "Jinglin' Baby" in '89/90. The second thing was Quik uses the "life ain't nothin' but bitches and money" sample from N.W.A.'s "Gangsta Gangsta". "Gangsta Gangsta" came out in '88. The third thing is "Born & Raised In Compton" is on the tape and it's the exact same version that was released in 1991. I can't see that song being record 5 years before it was released. In fact, Quik's overall production sound on The Red Tape sounds nothing like anything sounded in 1987. Either Quik was WAY ahead of his time, or The Red Tape was recorded in 1989/90 at the earliest. Either way, this tape is dope and a rare classic piece of history. If anybody has an actual copy of The Red Tape please hollar. I'll pay top dollar.

DJ Quik

The Red Tape

1. Reprise Intro feat. 2nd II None & AMG

2. Underground Terror feat. 2nd II None

3. Chocolate Lover feat. 2nd II None

4. Real Doe feat. 2nd II None & AMG

5. Word To The D feat. 2nd II None

6. My Dick feat. 2nd II None

7. Born And Raised In Compton

8. Rita Is A Bitch feat. 2nd II None

9. Good Thing

10. Ni**az Trippin' Freestyle feat. 2nd II None

11. Good Lover feat. 2nd II None

Darlene Is Still #1

That's right. Darlene is still #1. Before their was Vida Guerra, Melyssa Ford, Lola Luv, Esther Baxter and a host of other very banging video chicks, there was Ice-T's girl Darlene Ortiz aka "The Syndicate Queen". Ice-T knew that sex sells and his girl was hands down the sexiest (sorry KRS, Ms. Melody loses), but at the same time she was never looked at as a bitch. Remember her on the Rhyme Pays album cover? How about the Power cover? It's one of THE most classic Hip-Hop album covers ever. Just like LL, I took that shit straight home to the bathroom! AllHipHop.com caught up with the former Mrs. T and spoke to her about everything you can really talk to Darlene about - her life with Ice-T, her two famous album covers, Superhead, Coco (Ice's new wife), today's video vixens, and what life has been like since Darlene and Ice-T ended their 17 year relationship.

Click HERE for AllHipHop.com's full interview with Darlene.

And, if anybody has this Darlene doll then hollar! I want one.

Rap Treats #19: Wu-Tang Clan Demo Cuts

This is not Wu-Tang's actual demo. It is, however, a crazy collection of pre 36 Chambers Wu-Tang songs. Original versions and rarities galore.

Wu Tang Clan

"Demo Cuts Deluxe Edition"

1. Crane Bill Style (Ghostface Killah)

2. Wu-Tang Master (Prince Rakeem)

3. Bring Da Ruckus (Raekwon, Prince Rakeem & Inspectah Deck)

4. Enter The Wu-Tang (Prince Rakeem)

5. Problems (Prince Rakeem)

6. Take It Back To Brooklyn (Ason Unique)

7. Wu-Tang (Ason Unique)

8. Cuttin' Headz [Original] (Prince Rakeem & Ason Unique)

9. The Wu Is Comin Thru (Prince Rakeem & Ason Unique)

10. Taking Heads Off (Prince Rakeem)

11. What Do You Say (The Genius & Ason Unique)

12. Which Way Is Up (Prince Rakeem)

13. Your On (Shaquan, Baby-U & Prince Rakeem)

14. Stop The Breaks (Raekwon, Killa Sin, KRS-ONE & BIGGIE)

15. Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle (Prince Rakeem & Ason Unique)

16. It's Murdah (Prince Rakeem)

17. I Gets Down For My Crown (Shaquan, Baby-U, Prince Rakeem)

18. Words From The Genius [Prince Rakeem Remix] (Genius)

19. Ice Cream Man (Method Man)

20. Freestyle At Talent Show (Prince Rakeem & Ason Unique)

21. After The Laughter (Prince Rakeem & Ghostface Killah)

22. Ohh We Love You Rakeem [Original] (Prince Rakeem)

23. It's All About Me (Prince Rakeem)

24. O.D.B. Forever [Tribute] (Osirus)

Classic Material: LL Cool J + Krush Groove

Just because it's SUPER dope, here is LL's scene from Krush Groove where he raps for Rick Ruben and Run DMC. All time favourite.

Rap Treats #18: Mobb Deep "Quiet Storm" (Original Version)

Here goes the original version of Mobb's classic "Quiet Storm". We had this on a bootleg record for months before the original dropped so this is the version that I'm most familiar with. Same beat, but this version is missing the chorus (which I never really felt) and Lil Kim's wack ass.

Mobb Deep

"Quiet Storm" (Original Version)

Rap Treats #17: Group Home "Superstar" (Alternate Version)

Both Lil Dap and Nutcracker should forever be indebted to DJ Premier. I mean they were not exactly the second coming of Rakim and Kool G Rap. Primo took a couple of alright rappers and made a classic album. I love this album and I love "Superstar". This is an alternate version that has been liberated by the Gods of the internet.

Thank you internet Gods.

Group Home

"Superstar" (Alternate Version)

How A Record Gets Leaked

An album getting leaked is a horrible thing. For real, it takes money out of an artists pocket and usually gives them no chance of selling real numbers. Sometimes tracks are leaked intentionally to create a buzz on an artist, sometimes it's done because an artist has pissed somebody off, but mostly it's done so somebody who as no connection to the artist can either a) make money, or b) be the cool guy. Either way, we don't condone leaking an album early, but if somebody else does it then we have no problem (and only minor guilt issues) being the cool guy listening to it.

Click HERE to get a bigger (and more readable) version of the 'How A Record Gets Leaked' photo above.

Demos: Snoop Doggy Dogg & 213 Demo Tape (1991)

Super rare demo from Long Beach's 213, aka Snoop Dogg, Warren G & Nate Dogg (who isn't on this song). This was recorded in 1991, back before Dre snatched Snoop from the group and put him on "Deep Cover" and made him a star. The sound is pretty much what you would expect from a demo tape recorded in '91, but it's still cool to hear a very young Snoop Dogg do his thing. He was the star of the group even back then because out of the 7 minute song he raps for about 5 minutes of it and got the big intro from Warren G.

213 aka Snoop Dogg, Warren G & Nate Dogg

Demo Tape

Rap Treats #16: KRS One "Hip-Hop vs. Rap" (DJ Spinbad Remix)

This isn't super rare, too hard to find, or an original version, but it is one of the illest remixes you will ever hear so in my mind that qualifies it as a Rap Treat. DJ Spinbad took KRS One's acapaella of "Hip-Hop vs. Rap" and layer every beat to every classic line KRS borrows. If you fall under the Rap nerd category then you need no explanation. Ill. As. Fuck.

KRS One

"Hip-Hop vs. Rap" (DJ Spinbad Remix)