"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."

Vancity Original & thoseMFs present... VANCITY GIANTS 2

Large up all the artists that submitted tracks and freestyles for volume 2 of our Vancity Giants series. A extra large shout out to Kai, Tre, Snak, SonReal and Hedspin for killing the "Vancity Touch" record! We'll see everybody at the release party at Bar None tomorrow night (Dec 20th) featuring the legend Kid Capri. For more info on the release party go HERE.

Jay Swing - High Top Fades & Fat Gold Chains (Mixtape)

I set out to make a tape full of new shit, but for whatever reason this was the outcome. Fuck it, I like EPMD, Public Enemy, and Big Daddy Kane more than Drake, Rick Ross, and Juicy J. Don't get me wrong, when I'm drunk at the club there is nothing else I want to hear more than that new 2Chainz record, but for every other moment of my life I'm good with Eric B & Rakim.

I'd post the track list for this mix but I find that it is best served cold. No song titles, just a bunch of records that make me think of High Top Fades & Fat Gold Chains when I play them. The years covered are '87, '88, '89, '90, and '91. New Jacks be warned though, none of these songs come with a trendy dance attached to them but you can dance to all of them. Nothing but fast Rap (the beats, not the raps). Enjoy.


JAY SWING

High Top Fades & Fat Gold Chains

High Top Fades & Fat Gold Chains (tracked version)

Classic Material: Kool G. Rap Live at Union Square (1989)

I never did quite make it to any shows at Union Square back in the day. Mostly because I was a kid and my parents didn't let me out of the house after dark, but I'm pretty sure not living anywhere close to NYC had something to do with it as well. It was cool though, because I always knew that one day I would be able to watch poor quality videos on my Commodore 64 of my favourite rappers tearing the house down. You may have seen the Tribe video already, but this is the first time I've seen the Kool Genius of Rap live at Union Square (complete with dancers and a super live crowd). Genius.