Will Farrell & The Roc

The Roc in the building! Well, actually in the car with Will Farrell smoking a blunt and being real funny. This isn't new, but still a classic Saturday Night Live skit. Plus, I just seen it for the first time recently.

2008 ESPY Awards & Justin Timberlake

ESPN held their annual award show the ESPY's this past week. Justin Timberlake was the host/comedian for the night and the dude did a surprisingly good job. He cracks on all kinds of athletes in the opening monologue and was pretty funny. Check it above. And, because I know you were probably wondering, Norm Duke won the ESPY for Best Bowler. Which is great because if anybody deserves that award it's Norm Duke. Click HERE for the rest of the winners.

Rap Treats #31: Original, Rare and Unreleased

BIGGIE feat. Sadat X

"Come On" (Original Version)

This eventually found the light of day on B.I.G.'s Born Again album, but that version doesn't come close to this one. This is that Ready To Die BIGGIE.

LL Cool J

"Unknown Demo"

Obviously not the real title, but this song is unknown. It also sound pretty shitty. My guess is that it was a record he was working on and then scrapped.

De La Soul

"Roadrunner" (De La Version)

This one is basically a De La version of Chi Ali's "Roadrunner".

The Roots

"Workinonit" (Original Version)

Produced by J Dilla.

Mobb Deep

"Shook Ones" (The Beatnuts Remix)

This one came courtesy of Stretch Armstrong. The Beatnuts remix to the original "Shook Ones" that never saw an official release.

Nardwuar vs. N.E.R.D.

Pharrell REALLY likes Nardwuar. Check what he had to say about him below.

Classic Material: Eric B Met The President + Eric B & Rakim Live (The Apollo)

The folks over at Unkut have answered a question I've been asking myself for 15 years now - 'I wonder what Eric B is doing these days?' Don't front, you know you've thought the same. With help from Wikipedia that mystery has finally been solved. Eric B is Paid In Full!

"Eric is now the owner of 47 restaurants throughout the U.S. including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, California, Texas, Washington DC, and most recently, Pennsylvania. Residing in a 57,000 sq. ft. palatial manor, Eric has become the ideological musician turned entrepreneur turned royalty and has truly taken his hit song Eric B is President to fruition. With a car collection featuring seven Rolls Royce vehicles, including the famed Rolls Royce featured on the cover of Follow the Leader, Eric’s vehicular menagerie features a Rolls Royce Phantom, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and many other sought-after cars and trucks.

Recently featured on MTV Cribs, Eric B’s home, with a staff of 14 grounds keepers, chefs, maids, and security staff, was influenced by oriental design.

In 2007 Eric was honored by the President of the United States with an invitation to the White House where he met President George W. Bush, the First Lady and other dignitaries." - Wikipedia

BONUS Eric B:

Eric B & Rakim performing Eric B Is President and I Know You Got Soul at The Apollo back in 1986. This is that shit! Even though Rakim was just rapping over the actual records. they still absolutely murdered The Apollo.

Bert & Ernie "Ante Up" Video!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! This shit is done very well and is VERY hilarious. I never knew Bert & Ernie were this hard! Ante up!!

Rap Treats #30: Wu-Tang Clan "Mystagogue Vol. II"

I never knew about this tape before, but apparently it was only given out at skateboard shops with the purchase of some magazine I'd never even heard of called Slap. And to make it even more obscure it was only available on cassette tape back in 1996. Right around the time Wu-Tang was at their peak. I'm not sure who the DJ who mixed this is but he definitely gets busy. Anybody have Volume 1? WU-TANG!

Wu-Tang Clan

Mystagogue Vol. II (SIDE A)

Mystagogue Vol. II (SIDE B)

T La Rock - Unkut Interview + LL Cool J "It's Yours" Freestyle (1985)

T La Rock is one of the more slept on Old School Rap Legends there is, but fortunately the folks over at Unkut are not one of those sleeping. The recently caught up with T La Rock and they basically talked about his whole career. If you aren't up on T La Rock he made his name off the Rick Rubin produced record "It's Yours", which was also the first record with the Def Jam logo on it (rap nerd fact: the Beastie Boys did the back up chants and hand claps on "It's Yours"). LL Cool J's "It's Yours" 12 inch ended up being the first official Def Jam release. T La Rock is actually the rapper Def Jam wanted LL Cool J to be. When T La Rock and Def Jam parted ways they scooped up LL Cool J and even considered putting him out under the name T La Rock. This interview covers T La Rock's hooking up with with Rick Rubin, his fall out with Def Jam, LL Cool J, Jazzy Jay, being credited with starting Bass music, putting MC Search on, and a lot more.

Unkut T La Rock Interview Part 1

Unkut T La Rock Interview Part 2

BONUS:

LL Cool J

"It's Yours" freestyle (1985)

Records: Main Source - Breaking Atoms 12"s + 2 More

Another batch 12"s that all have the GREATEST 12 INCHES OF ALL TIME status. It's too bad that Large Professor split with Sir Scratch and Kid Kut before they could release a follow up to the classic Breaking Atoms album, but the trio left a bunch of classic records behind them. Their first release on Wild Pitch has what makes a 12 inch great - a classic on both sides A & B. "Looking At The Front Door" and "Watch Roger Do His Thing" were both released as singles and there are videos made for both songs (click on the song titles). These are really all the Main Source 12"s that matter. Sorry Mikey D, but Main Source with you as the rapper FUCKING SUCKED. For real, that should never have happened. I also included "Fakin' The Funk" record which came out after their album, and the "Think"/"Atom" record which was their debut. It doesn't get any better than this.

Main Source

"Looking At The Front Door" b/w

"Watch Roger Do His Thing" (1990)

(Wild Pitch Records)

A1 "Looking At The Front Door" (Vocal)

A2 "Looking At The Front Door" (Instrumental)

B1 "Watch Roger Do His Thing" (Vocal)

B2 "Watch Roger Do His Thing" (Instrumental)

Main Source

"Just Hangin' Out" b/w

"Live At The BBQ" feat. Nasty Nas, Akinyele & Joe Fatal (1991)

(Wild Pitch Records)

A1 "Just Hangin' Out" (Our Hood)

A2 "Just Hangin' Out" (Your Hood)

A3 "Just Hangin' Out" (Instrumental)

B1 "Live At The BBQ" (The Original Cookout)

B2 "Live At The BBQ" (Refried Barbeque)

B3 "Live At The BBQ" (Instrumental)

Main Source

"Peace Is Not The Word To Play" 12 Inch (1991)

(Wild Pitch Records)

A1 "Peace Is Not The Word To Play" (Remix)

A2 "Peace Is Not The Word To Play" (LP Version)

B1 "Peace Is Not The Word To Play" (Video Remix)

B2 "Peace Is Not The Word To Play" (Instrumental)

BONUS Main Source:

Main Source

"Fakin' The Funk" (1992)

(Wild Pitch Records)

A1 "Fakin' The Funk"

A2 "Fakin' The Funk" (Remix)

B1 "Fakin' The Funk" (Instrumental)

B2 "Fakin' The Funk" (Remix feat. Neek The Exotic)

Main Source

"Think" b/w "Atom" (1989)

(Actual Records)

A1 "Think" (Vocal)

A2 "Think" (Instrumental)

B1 "Atom" (Vocal)

B2 "Atom" (instrumental)

BONUS BONUS Main Source:

Main Source performing "Atom" on Muchmusic's Electric Circus. This footage is so old that Large Pro was a 16 year old rockin' a high top fade and one of the dancers had on a polka dot shirt on. This is both dope and rare as hell. Shouts to MOD once again for the hook up and big up a young DJ Starting From Scratch in the crowd!

Classic Material: Big Fun In The Big Town Documentary (1986)

This is a documentary that was done by some German guy (I think) back in '86 who was obviously captured by Hip-Hip music and culture. He talks to Run DMC, LL Cool J, Russell Simmons, Ice-T and whoever else was poppin' in 1986. Dope studio footage of Mr. Magic's Rap Attack on WBLS as well as lots of performances, studio, and party footage. The illest shit is watching a very Run DMC influenced duo called The Mystery Crew rapping out front of Russell Simmons office trying to get a record deal, which obviously didn't happen because I had never heard of The Mystery Crew until I watched this. This shit is dope as hell.

Classic Material: Beat This! A Hip-Hop History (1983)

This is a Hip-Hop documentary/movie that was made in 1983. I'd never seen this before but it's pretty fresh. Hip-Hop has come a long way.

Records: Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "T.R.O.Y." 12"

This is hands down one of the GREATEST 12 INCHES OF ALL TIME. This is not open for discussion. "T.R.O.Y." is one of the illest songs from one of the illest eras in Hip-Hop and "The Creator" is about as good a b-side there is. Plus, they did a vocal remix where both Pete Rock & CL spit over "The Creator" beat. Pete Rock & CL Smooth are classic material and there is no denying what the "Pete Rock remix" has meant to Hip-Hop - just ask Public Enemy and House Of Pain.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth

"The Reminisce Over You" b/w "The Creator" 12 inch

A1 "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" (Vocal)

A2 "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" (Instrumental)

A3 "Creator (Slide To The Side)" (Remix Radio Edit)

B1 "Creator (Slide To The Side)" (Remix Instrumental)

B2 "Creator (EP Mix)" (Vocal)

B3 "Creator (EP Mix)" (Instrumental)

Produced by Soul Brother #1 aka the Chocolate Boy Wonder aka Pete Rock