As a member of The Chosen Few, Trio Connection and Black By Demand, CJ Moore did his thing as a rapper in the 80’s while honing his skills as an engineer and mixer. Here are some examples of CJ in action on the mic and behind the boards.

Download – The CJ Moore Collection [Zippyshare Records and Tapes, 2015]

Track listing:

01 ‘Dope On Plastic’ – Uptown [co-produced by Dante Ross]
02 ‘All Rappers Give Up’ – Black By Demand
03 ‘Gots Ta Get Funky’ – Trio Connection
04 ‘Freaky’ – Akinyele
05 ‘Tekilla Sunrise’ – Kool G Rap [co-produced by Dr. Butcher]
06 ‘Dearly Beloved’ – Black By Demand
07 ‘I’m Hot’ – The Rangers
08 ‘Do You Wanna’ – Akinyele
09 ‘We’re Gettin Paid’ – Small’s Chosen Few
10 ‘Astoria Is In The House’ – Trio Connection
11 ‘Off The Hook’ – Akinyele
12 ‘I’m On My Way’ – Sham & The Professor
13 ‘Play That Beat’ – X-Ecutioners
14 ‘Thugs Love Story’ – Kool G Rap [co-produced by Dr. Butcher]

Following up the the first Bob James Unkut compilation from 2008, here are 24 more sure-shots based around my all-time favorite sample source – ‘Nautilus’. Considering that Bob James’ masterpiece is so chock-full of ill sounds, every interpretation takes on a life of it’s own, from the mournful ‘Sincerity’, the melodic swing of ‘Once Upon A Rhyme’ and the swirling menace of ‘Iceberg Slick’ to the tense understatement of ‘Let Em Have It L’ and ‘Mystery’.

*Updated with T La Rock track*

Download: Bob James Unkut, Volume 2.1 [Zippyshare Records and Tapes]

Track listing:

01. ‘Once Upon A Rhyme’ [Original Version] – Rakim
02. ‘Take It Back’ – Wu-Tang Clan
03. ‘Iceberg Slick’ – Real Live
04. ‘Mad Izm’ [Buckwild Remix] – Channel Live
05. ‘Mystery’ – Lazy Laz
06. ‘Let ‘Em Have It “L”‘ – Big L
07. ‘This That and The 3rd (Take It Back)’ – Ilacoin
08. ‘Big Shots’ – King Sun
09. ‘On The Smooth Tip’ – 5ive-0 Posse
10. ‘It’s Yours’ [Todd Terry Remix] – T La Rock
11. ‘The Antidote’ – Fashawn
12. ‘Doper Then Dope’ – Salt-N-Pepa
13. ‘The Rap World’ – Pete Rock & Large Professor
14. ‘Sincerity’ – Mary J. Blige feat. DMX & Nas
15. ‘The Rhyme You’re About To Hear’ – T.D.S. Mob
16. ’99 Problems’ [El-P Remix] – Jay-Z
17. ‘I Keep My Palm On The Handle’ [Original Version] – Herb McGruff
18. ‘Wild Thing’ – E.S.P.
19. ‘Slipping Into Darkness’ – Queen Mother Rage
20. ‘I Gotsta Have It’ – Tim Smooth
21. ‘Scene’ – Mike Zoot
22. ‘Wanna Be Down’ – Big Twins
23. ‘Digusting’ – Gangsta NIP
24. ‘Our House (East New York)’ – Ultimate Choice

Ice-T’s Rhyme Syndicate was one of the more unusual extended rap crews, with a core membership that included everyone from old school veteran Donald D, ‘Caucasian Sensation’ Everlast, rapper/crooner dude Bronx Style Bob and acid casualty Divine Styler. According to the Syndicate Facebook page, which looks like it’s run by Donald D, the official role call is as follows:

Ice-T, Donald-D, Everlast, Afrika Islam, Darlene the Syndicate Queen, Bronx Style Bob, Divine Styler & the Scheme Team, Bilal Bashir, Low Profile (W.C. & Aladdin), Spinmasters (Hen-Gee & Evil-E), Hijack, Randy Mac, DJ Chilly Dee, MC Taste, Shaquel Shabazz, Nat the Cat, Domination, T.D.F., Mixmaster Quick, F.B.I. Crew, Lord Finesse, Nile Kings, Rhamel, Tre Kan, Bang-O, Toddy Tee, Monie Love, MC Trouble and Body Count.

Here’s a collection of my favorite Syndicate songs from that era, a reminder of when LA rappers were still trying to impress New York by rapping properly and when important issues such as how great it would be to have a sweet new Rolex watch were addressed with the seriousness they deserved. Sadly, despite having some great production from Aladdin and SLJ, Ice’s rapping had begun to fall into steep decline by the time he made Home Invasion, where he introduced some teenage chick rapper named Grip. I blame Body Count, obviously.

Download: A Salute To The Rhyme Syndicate

Track listing:

01. ‘The Syndicate’ – Ice-T feat. Donald D and Hen-G
02. ‘Hell Raiser’ – Donald D
03. ‘You Played Yourself’ [Remix] – Ice-T feat. Aladdin & King Tee
04. ‘No Mercy’ – Low Profile
05. ‘Mass Movement’ – Bango
06. ‘My Word is Bond’ – Ice-T feat. Donald D and Bronx Style Bob
07. ‘Tongue Of Labyrinth’ – Divine Styler
08. ‘Syndication’ [Remix] – Everlast
09. ‘Fly By’ – Ice-T feat. Nat The Cat and Donald D
10. ‘While You’ve Been Waiting’ – Nat The Cat
11. ‘Dropping Bombs’ – Nile Kings
12. ‘I Need A Rolex’ [Remix] – Toddy Tee
13. ‘3 Poets On A Mission’ – Donald D feat. Kid Jazz and Peter Gunz
14. ‘Brothers’ – The Spin Masters
15. ‘What Ya Wanna Do?’ – Ice-T feat. Bronx Style Bob, Divine Styler, Donald D, Everlast, Hen-Gee, M.C. Taste, Nat The Cat, Randy Mac, Shaquel Shabazz and Toddy Tee

Eff a Fatman Scoop, the only old guy you need yelling on your records is Greg N-I-C-E. While recent years have seen king of the human echo chamber reduced to consorting with the likes of Jason Nevins and Talib Kweli, there was a time when having this man on your hook was money in the bank. Just ask The Beatnuts, who enlisted his help on no less than four album cuts and two outside projects.

Download: A Salute To Greg Nice Solo Guest Shots [Zippyshare Records and Tapes]

Track listing:

1. ‘Hands Up High’ – Phat Doug feat. Preacher Earl and Greg Nice
2. ‘Now I Realize’ [Some Ol Uptown Shit Mix] – Menagrei feat. Phat Doug and Greg Nice
3. ‘Ass, Grass, Cash’ – Everlast feat. Greg Nice and Sadat X
4. ‘Wanna Make Moves’ [Remix] – Red Hot Lover Tone feat. Greg Nice
5. ‘Turn It Out’ – The Beatnuts feat. Greg Nice
6. ‘Me & The Click’ – Ill Al Skratch feat. Greg Nice
7. ‘Pit Fight’ – Tony Touch feat. Greg Nice and Psycho Les
8. ‘Don’t Talk Me To Death’ – Phat Doug Feat. Greg Nice, Preacher Earl and LS
9. ‘Don’t Understand’ – Masta Ace feat. Greg Nice
10. ‘Hot’ – The Beatnuts feat. Greg Nice
11. ‘Dr. Feelgood’ – Ill Al Skratch feat. Greg Nice, Nine and MOP
12. ‘Stick ‘Em Up’ – Big City feat. Greg Nice
13. ‘You Won’t Tell, I Won’t Tell’ – Busta Rhymes feat. Greg Nice
14. ‘My Mind’ – Sadat X feat. Greg Nice
15. ‘Freak Ya’ – Tony Touch feat. Greg Nice
16. ‘Hot Shit’ [Remix] – Big Daddy Kane, Sadat X, Guru and Greg Nice

I had the good fortune of connecting with Paradise The Architect from X-Clan on the phone last week for an interview, which gave me cause to revisit the Blackwatch discography, since he was heavily involved of producing everything under the banner until Brother J started Dark Sun Riders in the mid 90’s. For extra good times, try and play a drinking game where you have to go a shot every time you hear the word ‘sissy’ or any variation thereof.

Download: A Salute To The Blackwatch Movement [Zippyshare Records and Tapes]

Track listing:

01 ‘A.D.A.M.’ [Flavored Mix] – X-Clan
02 ‘Slipping Into Darkness’ – Queen Mother Rage
03 ‘Grand Verbalizer, What Time Is It’ [Epitome Mix] – X-Clan
04 ‘Jewels of Evol’ – Dark Sun Riders
05 ‘Funkin’ Lesson’ [Part II] – X-Clan
06 ‘Three The Hard Way’ – Unique and Dashan
07 ‘Great Pimpstress’ – Isis
08 ‘In The Ways Of The Scale’ – X-Clan
09 ‘Emphasis On A Sister’ – Queen Mother Rage
10 ‘The Eclipse Begins’ – Dark Sun Riders
11 ‘They Don’t Know Jack’ – Professor X feat. Brother J
12 ‘Dark Sun Riders’ [Ultra Jazz Remix] – Dark Sun Riders
13 ‘Verbal Papp’ – X-Clan
14 ‘The Sleeper Has Awakened’ – Professor X feat. Queen Mother Rage

DJ Spinna and Kriminal provided the 1996 indy stand-out single, ‘Beyond Real’/’Dead Man Walking,’ which proved to be the one of the highlights of an extensive discography over the next six years. Spinna was in high demand during this period for his signature lush production style which combined restrained sampling and original riffs for an atmospheric canvas of sounds, while Krim provided the most compelling verbal contributions from a wide range of vocalists who utilized the Beyond Real catalog. Ignoring the hackneyed ‘conscious’/’underground’ cliches that came to sully much of the ‘independent as fuck’ mantra of the day, Kriminal maintained a refreshingly honest style of Brooklyn brag rap that wasn’t afraid to boast of of ‘putting a dick in your girl’ during a time of tiresome politically correct posturing and underground flag-waving.

Jigmastas produced an impressive collection of guest appearances on compilation albums that would prove to be more effective than the ill-fated Tommy Boy Black album project which would eventually be distributed by Landspeed after the deal fell through. Perhaps the most effective songs of this period was ‘Thief’s Theme,’ a powerful statement of intent that combined the best of Spinna and Kriminal’s talents over a Nas hook, five years before Nasir used an identical sample for his Streets Disciple single of the same name. The crew parted ways for an extended period before reuniting for Spinna’s 2009 Sonic Smash album, and reunited again five years later for the excellent ‘Resurge’ single from an EP that has yet to materialize. I’ve collected my sixteen favorite Jigmastas deep cuts in appreciation for the fine work that these two produced away from the hype that was assigned to many less interesting flavors of the month during an era of wasted potential and smug self-satisfaction of opposing against the ‘Jiggy Era,’ which on retrospect was a red herring for many borderline talents to justify their own lack of ability to rock a party.

Download: A Salute To Jigmastas

Track listing:

01 ‘Introduction’
02 ‘Beyond Real’
03 ‘If’
04 ‘Iz You Dee [Remix]’
05 ‘Thief’s Theme’
06 ‘Comments: To The Sure Shot’
07 ‘Keep On Rockin’
08 ‘Threat’
09 ‘On The Strength’
10 ‘You Got To Live’ feat. Akil
11 ‘Awareness’
12 ‘Last Will and Testimony’
13 ‘Stones’
14 ‘Black Amadeus’ feat. Dynas
15 ‘Dead Man’s Walk’
16 ‘Resurge’

Bonus:

Twelve non-LP Mobb Deep tracks that were officially released on someone else’s album, as opposed to the seemingly endless supply of stuff that never got a proper retail release.

UPDATE: By popular demand, now available as a Zippyshare Records and Tapes download…

Download: Mobb Deep – Soundtrack and Compilation Cuts

‘Nobody Likes Me’ [Violator, The Album]

‘Street Life’ [America Is Dying Slowly]

‘Back At You’ [Sunset Park Soundtrack]

‘Rare Species [Modus Operandi]’ [Soul In A Hole Soundtrack]

‘It Could Happen To You’ [The Soul Assassins, Chapter 1]

‘Hoodlum’ [Hoodlum Soundtrack]

‘Carved In Stone’ [Insomnia 1st Infantry]

‘Mobb of Steel’ [Steel Soundtrack]

‘Feel My Gat Blow’ [Slam Soundtrack]

‘The Professional’ [The Professional]

‘Never Going Back’ [Any Given Sunday Soundtrack]

‘Backwards’ [The Cutting Room Floor]

Pumpkinhead and Sucio Smash [Photo by: Photo Rob]

As most of you already know, long-time indy rap champion Pumpkinhead passed away this week at only 39 years old, tragically leaving behind his pregnant wife and two kids. I’m not really qualified to speak on the man’s numerous contributions, but Chaz Kangas has put together a fitting tribute to the man for Complex, while some of his friends shared their fondest memories on Facebook:

DJ Eclipse: Some of us spend countless hours, days, months, years and even decades promoting others more so then we do ourselves. PH was one of those guys. Even though he made a name for himself in the battle scene and even made some records, it was his work here in NYC that I’ll remember even more. An integral part of the 90’s indie movement as well as today’s battle scene and a promoter of authentic acts and events, PH cared about the culture of Hip Hop. For him it was about your skills and how to improve on them. He was one of the ones that helped keep the foundation strong for others to go on and build careers.

Marco Polo: I would not be where I’m at without you taking a chance on some unknown Canadian producer. You believed in my talents before anyone else and I will forever be grateful. A great father and soldier to Hip Hop culture. Thank you for your contributions you will be missed.

Sucio Smash: Not only were you a dope MC and artist you were also a Hip Hop ambassador and activist. You brought some talented MCs by the radio show, cats that honestly the world wouldn’t know about if it wasn’t for you. We also worked on many live shows together. You were a part of some of the most memorable cyphers on Squeeze Radio history… Man I’m really trying to do you justice but I don’t think anything I write can even begin to describe how great of a man you are. Other than your talent I’ll miss your energy the most bro. Every time we saw each other no matter where it was we were bound to crack jokes and have a blast.

For my part, I thought I’d stick to what I know best and select my fourteen favorite PH tracks, reflecting both his solo work and his numerous group affiliations. To donate to Pumpkinhead’s widow and children, go here.

Download: A Tribute To Pumpkinhead

Track listing:

01 ‘Do It’ – Will Tell feat. Pumpkinhead
02 ‘Con Artists’ – Brooklyn Academy
03 ‘Dynamic’ – Pumpkinhead
04 ‘Swordfish’ [Remix] – Pumpkinhead feat. Roc Marciano
05 ‘Times Have Changed’ – Brooklyn Academy
06 ‘Park Slope’ – Pumpkinhead
07 ‘2nd Ammendment’ – Pumpkinhead
08 ‘Stupid People’ – Pumpkinhead feat. Jean Grae
09 ‘Blacklisted’ – Pumpkinhead
10 ‘Battering Bars’ – Sean Price feat. Pumpkinhead
11 ‘Sweet Skemes’ – Skeme Team
12 ‘Where’s Brooklyn Ac’ – Block McCloud feat. Pumpkinhead
13 ‘Wack Emcees’ – Pumpkinhead
14 ‘Bang Da Underground’ – DJ JS-1 feat. Torae, Pumpkinhead and Block McCloud

For a jam-packed four year stretch, The Sugar Hill Band was the most powerful force in recorded rap, providing the beats for The Furious Five, Funky 4+1, Treacherous Three, Crash Crew, Spoonie Gee, The Sequence and more. With it’s core membership consisting of guitarist Skip McDonald, bassist Doug Wimbish, drummer Keith LeBlanc, percussionist Ed ‘Duke Bootee’ Fletcher and arranger Clifton ‘Jiggs’ Chase, the Sugar Hill Band were assigned to replay and re-arrange the hot breaks of the day, as advised by the likes of Grandmaster Flash based on what the crowd responded to when he deejayed. Unfortunately, some of their finest work such as ‘Funk You Up’ and ‘It’s Nasty (Genius of Love)’ was never issued in instrumental versions, but I’ve done my bets to cobble together what I could from the vaults.

Download: A Salute To The Sugar Hill Band

Track listing:

01 ‘That’s The Joint’ [Instrumental]
02 ‘8th Wonder’ [Instrumental]
03 ‘On The Radio’ [Instrumental]
04 ‘Freedom’ [Instrumental]
05 ‘Monster Jam’ [Instrumental]
06 ‘Scratching’ [Instrumental]
07 ‘Making Cash Money/Spoonie Is Back’ [Instrumental]
08 ‘We Want To Rock’ [Instrumental]
09 ‘New York, New York’ [Instrumental]
10 ‘Action’ [Instrumental]
11 ‘Simon Says’ [Instrumental]
12 ‘The Message’ [Instrumental]
13 ‘Disco Dream’ [Instrumental]
14 ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It)’ [Instrumental]
15 ‘Apache’ [Instrumental]

Slick Rick The Ruler was the go-to guy for late nineties R&B remixes for a while, but it’s been his work adding his unique vocal stylings to rap tracks that have shone the brightest. From over thirty official guest spots I’ve selected the best sixteen appearances of the Rickster for another Zippyshare Records and Tapes sure shot treat.

Download: A Salute To Slick Rick Cameos

Track listing:

01 ‘Just Another Case – Cru feat. Slick Rick
02 ‘Why Not’ – Erick Sermon feat. Slick Rick
03 ‘Let’s All Get Down’ – Nice & Smooth feat. Slick Rick
04 ‘So Fresh’ – Will Smith feat. Biz Markie and Slick Rick
05 ‘Women Lose Weight’ – Morcheeba feat. Slick Rick
06 ‘Night Riders’ – Rahzel feat. Slick Rick
07 ‘Get Bizzy’ – Greyson & Jasun feat. Slick Rick
08 ‘Auditorium’ – Mos Def feat. Slick Rick
09 ‘The Sun’ – Ghostface Killah feat, Raekwon, Slick Rick and The RZA
10 ‘Trouble on the Westside Highway’ – Tony Touch feat. Slick Rick
11 ‘Unify’ – Kid Capri feat. Snoop Dogg and Slick Rick
12 ‘Who U?’ – Dynas Feat. Slick Rick
13 ‘If We Give You A Chance’ – Warren G feat. Slick Rick and Phats Bossi
14 ‘Irresistible Delicious’ – Missy Elliot feat. Slick Rick
15 ‘The Return’ [Remix] – Jay-Z and R. Kelly feat. Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh
16 ‘The Weekend’ [Clarkworld Remix] – Dave Hollister feat. Slick Rick

There was a brilliant period in hip-hop and electro records where the engineers seemed determined to warp and distort the original track to near unrecognizable forms, splattering echo and gated snares on the walls of some long-forgotten underground cavern. Let’s call it the Spelunker Period. The labels often provided not so subtle clues about what we could expect, announcing ‘Zootie,’ ‘Stubb,’ ‘Burnt’ and ‘Psycho Dust’ versions of their vocal counterparts. The following are selection of abrasive, dusted drum machine and scratch experiences that demonstrate the beauty of that thing sometimes referred to as The Dope Noise.

Download: A Salute To Noise

Track listing:

01. ‘The Wop’ [Bonus Beat] – La La The Leader Of The Pack feat MC Flash
02. ‘I Need A Beat’ [Zootie Mix] – LL Cool J
03. ‘Roxanne’s Backside’ [Beat It Mix] – The Real Roxanne feat. UTFO
04. ‘The Wopp Sensation’ [Stubb Version] – Rockwell Noel feat. Poet
05. ‘It’s Your Rock’ [Dub] – Fantasy Three
06. ‘You Shouldn’t Have Done It’ [Marley Marl Dub Mix] – Frick N Frack
07. ‘The Tragedy’ [Marley Marl Dub Mix] – Super Kids
08. ‘Drum Machine’ [Psycho Dust Version] – MCA And Burzootie
09. ‘Elementary’ [Dub] – Boogie Down Productions
10. ‘Fresh Wild Fly and Bold’ [It’s Us Scratch Dub] – Cold Crush Brothers
11. ‘Leader Of The Pack’ [Special Mix] – UTFO
12. ‘Bust This Rhyme’ [Dub Version] – MC Chill
13. ‘Tom-Tom’ [Dub] – Progression
14. ‘Juice Crew Law’ [Dub] – MC Shan
15. ‘We Come To Rock’ [We Dub To Scratch Mix] – Imperial Brothers
16. ‘The Godfather’ [Dub Mix] – Spoonie Gee

If you don’t enjoy the bombastic nonsense that is Greg Nice combined with the ultra relaxed musings of Smooth B then there isn’t much hope for you in life. I recommend drinking bleach, playing chicken with freight trains or challenging Just-Ice to a fist fight in order to hasten your ascent to the pearly gates/pits of hell/endless grey void that awaits you. For all the rest of you, please enjoy my favorite Nice & Smooth songs – in particular the unreleased ‘Turn It Out,’ which features the best use of Babe Ruth‘s ‘Keep Your Distance’ in some time and was re-recorded with a different beat for the Blazin’ Hot LP.

Download: A Salute To Nice & Smooth

Track listing:

01 ‘How To Flow’ [Abstract Remix] – Nice & Smooth
02 ‘Return Of The Hip Hop Freaks’ [Remix] – Nice & Smooth
03 ‘Turn It Out’ – Nice & Smooth
04 ‘No Delayin’ – Nice And Smooth
05 ‘Work It Out’ – Greg Nice
06 ‘Dwyck’ – Gang Starr feat. Nice & Smooth
07 ‘Cash In My Hands’ [Remix] – Nice & Smooth
08 ‘Sometimes I Rhyme Slow’ – Nice & Smooth
09 ‘Funky For You’ [Remix] – Nice & Smooth
10 ‘Set It Off’ – Greg Nice
11 ‘Skill Trade’ – Nice & Smooth
12 ‘I Want My Money Back’ – Smooth B
13 ‘Early To Rise’ – Nice & Smooth
14 ‘Lockdown’ – Nice & Smooth
15 ‘Game Over’ – Smooth B
16 ‘Pump It Up’ – Nice & Smooth
17 ‘No Bones In Ice Cream’ – Nice & Smooth

Some of my favorite moments in rap have been provided by crews who only ever managed to release one single (or spot on a compilation) before vanishing from the limelight. This collection of sixteen one shot winners are tracks that have stood the test of time, despite their creators never rising to the ranks of the greats.

Download: A Salute To One Shot Wonders

Track listing:

01 ‘Dope On Plastic’ – Uptown¹
02 ‘The Rhymthologist’ – Jamose
03 ‘My Masurati’ – Jay Bok The City Ace²
04 ‘The Other Side’ – Levi 167³
05 ‘Ready To Penetrate’ – Sugar Bear The Powerful Powerlord
06 ‘They Call Me Puma’ – Seeborn and Puma⁴
07 ‘Mystery’ – Lazy Laz
08 ‘Listen To My Turbo’ – Raw Dope Posse⁵
09 ‘Genuine’ – Triflicts⁶
10 ‘Stitch By Stitch’ – Ron B and The 2 Step Crew⁷
11 ‘Top Gun’ – Lord Alibaski⁸
12 ‘I’m The King’ – Raheem⁹
13 ‘Don’t Say It, Sing It’ – Keek & Qagee
14 ‘We Have Risen’ – The Almighty El Cee
15 ‘Pimps, Players & Hustlers’ – Big Meal¹⁰
16 ‘Rap Fiend’ – Ray Love¹¹

1. Uptown would reappear on a couple of Buckshot LeFonque records as 50 Styles: The Unknown Soldier, but this was his sole headline release.
2. Both this and the horror movie themed b-side are two outstanding DJ Doc productions.
3. KRS-One‘s one time buddy dropped this essential single on B-Boy before reportedly dedicating his time to beaming up to Scotty.
4. Not a Garanimal.
5. Best T La Rock tribute ever.
6. Gab Gotcha and Creature went on to solo releases, but this was the only thing they released as a team with Buc Live.
7. Ron B does New Orleans proud on this Hear No Evil gem.
8. Ali Ba-Ski‘s other track appeared on 45 King Presents…The Flavor Unit LP.
9. The debut of Grandpa Finesse on the intro with an early Diamond D beat. What more could you want?
10. The original Dr. Butcher before Drew stepped in to provide Kool G Rap‘s beats and scratches.
11. Hidden jewel from the Culture Shock International compilation.

Hurby ‘Lug Bug’ Azor played a big part in exposing a different style of Queens rap to the world as his Idol Makers crew concentrated on dressing fly, club hopping and bagging the opposite sex, largely favoring story-telling over the classic brag and boast technique. Hurby’s appreciation of go-go beats, DMX shakers and classic breakbeats produced some dance floor classics before he broke through to the pop charts with Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Push It’ and into the movies via Kid ‘N Play‘s Houseparty franchise. After producing a couple of records for MC Shan‘s white reggae artist Snow in 1995, Hurby vanished from the music scene altogether. Here are what I consider to be his sixteen finest moments behind the boards.

Download: A Salute To Hurby Luv Bug

Track listing:

01 ‘It’s Like That Y’all’ – Sweet Tee
02 ‘Cinderfella Dana Dane’ – Dana Dane
03 ‘Chick on the Side’ [Remix] – Salt-N-Pepa
04 ‘Do This My Way’ – Kid ‘N Play
05 ‘I Got An Attitude’ – Antoinette
06 ‘The Mic Is Mine’ – Kwame
07 ‘My Mike Sounds Nice’ – Salt-N-Pepa
08 ‘Rock Wit Joeski’ – Joeski Love
09 ‘Gittin’ Funky’ – Kid ‘N Play
10 ‘I Gotcha (Once Again)’ – Salt-N-Pepa
11 ‘It’s My Beat’ – Sweet Tee feat. Jazzy Joyce
12 ‘Hit ‘Em With This’ – Antoinette
13 ‘Let The Rhythm Run’ [Remix] – Salt-N-Pepa
14 ‘Dana Dane With Fame’ – Dana Dane
15 ‘Unfinished Business’ – Antoinette
16 ‘Let The Drummer Get Ill’ – Super Lovers

Thanks to Mal Moe for suggesting the idea for this comp.

Hitman Howie Tee got his start as part of CD III, before laying down the demo version of ‘Roxanne Roxanne’ for UTFO and helping out Full Force with some material, before lending his talents to Whistle, Chubb Rock, Special Ed, the Real Roxanne and Little Shawn. Later in his career he branched out into reggae (Vicious, Patra) and created pop (Color Me Badd, Madonna, EMF). Here are some of his more memorable moments when he was in hardcore rap mode.

Download: A Salute To Howie Tee

Track listing:

01 ‘I Got It Made’ – Special Ed
02 ‘Treat ‘Em Right’ – Chubb Rock
03 ‘Bang Zoom (Let’s Go-Go)’ – The Real Roxanne with Hitman Howie Tee
04 ‘Give Me the Night’ – E.S.P.
05 ‘Father’s Day’ – Father MC
06 ‘Hickeys on Your Chest’ – Little Shawn
07 ‘Caught Up’ [Remix] – Chubb Rock
08 ‘Hip Hop Music’ – Groove B Chill
09 ‘Come On Let’s Move It’ [Remix] – Special Ed
10 ‘Get Up and Get Widit’ – E.S.P.
11 ‘Soul Man’ [Jeep Mix] – Isidore aka Izzy Ice
12 ‘Livin’ Like a Star’ – Special Ed
13 ‘Rappers at Close Range’ – Little Shawn
14 ‘Look But Don’t Touch’ – The Real Roxanne
15 ‘Transformation’ – Whistle
16 ‘Candyman Theme’ [Remix] – Candyman

To compliment the Flavor Unit Oral History I did for RBMA, here are my sixteen favorite tracks from the first generation of Flavor Unit MC’s through to passing the torch to Naughty By Nature for the second installment. Before anyone asks, no that 900 Number album never actually got released but apparently featured new verses from Latee and Chill Rob.

Download: A Salute To The Original Flavor Unit

Track listing:

01 ‘Flavor Unit Assassination Squad’ – The Flavor Unit
02 ‘This Cut’s Got Flavor’ – Latee
03 ‘Your Arms Too Short To Box With God’ – Lakim Shabazz
04 ‘Smooth Yet Hard’ – The 45 King feat. Apache
05 ‘Court Is In Session’ [Soulshock Remix] – Chill Rob G
06 ‘A King And Queen Creation’ – Queen Latifah Featuring The 45 King
07 ‘Style Is Free’ – Louie Louie feat. Lakim Shabazz
08 ‘Cannibal Town’ – Double J
09 ‘The King Is Here’ – Markey Fresh
10 ‘Wrath Of My Madness’ – Queen Latifah
11 ‘The Red, The Black, The Green’ – The 45 King feat. Lakim Shabazz
12 ‘Top Gun’ – Lord Ali Ba-Ski
13 ‘Chillin” – Chill Rob G
14 ‘Brainstorm’ – The 45 King feat. Latee
15 ‘Master Of The Game’ – The 45 King feat. Lakim Shabazz
16 ‘1,2,3’ – Naughty By Nature feat. Apache and Lakim Shabazz

The qualification to make it onto this compilation requires that two or more of the rappers were never heard from again¹. Let us sit back and bask in the fleeting glory that is getting to rap on your pal’s album on account of being a faithful weed carrier or always ensuring that the studio fridge is full of ice cold beers.

Download: A Salute To Milk Carton Posse Cuts

Track listing:

01 ‘Show ’em How We Do Things’ [First Session] – Lord Finesse feat. Shel-Rumble and Harry O
02 ‘Farmers Blvd. (Our Anthem)’ – LL Cool J feat. Big Money, Grip, Bomb and HI C
03 ‘Pass It On’ UMC’s feat. Kwazi and Prophet
04 ‘5 Men and a Mic’ – Special Ed feat. 40-Love, Akshun, Coolie Man and Little Shawn
05 ‘Acid Rain’ – YZ feat. City Morgue
06 ‘8 Iz Enuff’ [Demo Version] – Big L feat. Twan, Buddah Bless, Killa Kam, Herb McGruff, Mike Boogie, Terra and Trooper J
07 ‘Shaboom!’ – Kwame feat. CJaneRunLikeAMutha, Gasoline Alley, Grand Master Flex and KBornGodAllahNegativeXtheHoe
08 ‘Spectacular’ – Al Tariq feat. A-Massacre, Problemz, SK and Sean Black
09 ‘Another Wild Nigger From the Bronx’ – Fat Joe feat. Gismo, Keith Keith and King Sun
10 ‘Livin’ Large In The Nineteez’s’ – Joeski Love feat. Nugget and Al-Prentice
11 ‘Blast A New Asshole’ – Grand Daddy I.U. feat. Big Snow, Kid Capri and Taheim
12 ‘Iraq (See The World)’ – Capone-N-Noreaga feat. Castro, Mendosa, Musolini and Troy Outlaw
13 ‘Spontaneous (13 MC’s Deep!)’ – Leaders Of The New School feat. Blitz, The Capital L.S, Kollie Weed, Cool Whip Brittle Lo, Jeranimo, Pudge God, Rampage and Sha-now
14 ‘Pass Dat Shit’ – Diamond D feat. Fat Joe, Maestro, Mike G.Q. and Whiz One

1. Prophet and Kwazi being the exception, they turned up on Shyheim’s first album

Some of my favorite rap sprung from Houston’s Rap-A-Lot Records, as the label incorporated organs, harmonicas and funk guitar with traditional breakbeats, creating a unique blend of east coast and southern hip-hop before everyone jumped on The Chronic bandwagon and started playing everything from scratch. Here’s a selection of my favorite moments from the early days of the house that J. Prince built above his car lot.

Download: A Salute To Rap-A-Lot Records

Track listing:

01 ‘Fugitives On The Run’ – Too Much Trouble feat. Scarface
02 ‘Read These Nikes’ – Geto Boys
03 ‘Comin’ From The Swamp’ – Big Mike
04 ‘Life In The Fast Lane’ – Geto Boys
05 ‘Copper To Cash’ – Bushwick Bill
06 ‘Diary Of A Madman’ – Scarface
07 ‘Invincible’ – Raheem
08 ‘No Nuts No Glory’ – Geto Boys
09 ‘No Sell Out’ – Geto Boys
10 ‘Here To Say A Lil’ Somethin” – Odd Squad
11 ‘He’s Dead’ – Scarface
12 ‘Bald Headed Hoes’ – Willie Dee
13 ‘Too Mo Minnis’ – Royal Flush
14 ‘School Boy Crush’ – Def IV
15 ‘Damned Shame’ – Gangsta NIP
16 ‘I’m Not A Gentleman’ – Geto Boys
17 ‘Power’ – O.G. Style
18 ‘1-900-Dial-A-Crook’ – Convicts feat. Geto Boys

Photo: richdirection

Remember that time that A.G. fired shots at Arrested Development in The Source for not mentioning Show when they won the Grammy for ‘Tennesee’? Here’s the remix in question, alongside fifteen other examples of Show’s production magic, ranging from his early big band horn-stab style through to his incredibly sparse, stripped down period and his more recent cinematic sound.

Download: A Salute To Showbiz Remixes

Track listing:

01 ‘All Love’ [Show Remix] – D.I.T.C.
02 ‘Pounds Up’ [Remix] – M.O.P.
03 ‘Fat Pockets’ [Radio Remix] – Showbiz & A.G.
04 ‘Best Behavior’ [Showbiz Remix #2] – D.I.T.C.
05 ‘The Ultimate’ [Showbiz Remix] – Artifacts
06 ‘Stone to The Bone’ [Remix] – Big Jaz
07 ‘Tennessee’ [Remix] – Arrested Development
08 ‘Day One’ [Show Remix] – D.I.T.C.
09 ‘Big Apple Gone Rotten’ [Remix] – Fat Joe & Armageddon
10 ‘Return of the Funkyman’ [Remix] – Lord Finesse
11 ‘Sally Got a One-Track Mind’ [Showbiz Remix] – Diamond D
12 ‘Breakfast At Denny’s’ [Showbiz Remix] – Buckshot Lefonque
13 ‘I Got A Man’ [Hip Hop Mix] – Positive K
14 ‘You’ve Been Played’ [Showbiz Street Mix] – Smooth
15 ‘North South East West’ [Showbiz Remix] – Black Sheep
16 ‘Bring It On’ [Remix] – Maestro Fresh Wes

As much as it’s always a treat to hear the early, unreleased demo efforts of great rappers, it’s also intriguing to be able to experience the early, rough takes of songs that would be polished-up, adjusted or paired back. Some of these demo versions feature different lyrics, alternative loops or sometimes simply looser deliveries, and as a result a handful are actually superior to the final retail mixes. Considering the breadth of crusty old tape versions floating around, it was a long and sometimes tedious process to pair it down to these final twenty one.

Download: A Salute To Original Demo Versions

Track listing:

01 ‘Nobody Beats the Biz’ [Demo Version] – Biz Markie
02 ‘Marley Marl Scratch’ [Demo Version #1] – Marley Marl feat. MC Shan
03 ‘Flavor 4 The Non-Believes’ [Demo Version] – Poetical Prophets aka Mobb Deep
04 ‘Gas Drawls’ [Demo Version] – MF Doom¹
05 ‘Walk This Way’ [Demo Version] – Run-DMC feat. Aerosmith
06 ‘Wrong Side of the Tracks’ [Demo Version] – Artifacts
07 ‘Rampage’ [Demo Version] – EPMD feat. LL Cool J
08 ‘Props Over Here’ [Demo Version] – The Beatnuts
09 ‘It’s A Big Daddy Thing’ [Demo Version] – Big Daddy Kane
10 ‘Jorge Of The Projects’ [Demo Version] – Kurious Jorge
11 ‘Sunnyside’ [Demo Version] – Finsta Bundy
12 ‘I’m Different’ [Demo Version] – Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs
13 ‘Supa Dupa Star’ [Demo Version] – Group Home
14 ‘Blame It On Me’ aka ‘Jack the Ripper’ [Demo Version] – LL Cool J
15 ‘Nas Will Prevail’ aka ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’ [Demo Version] – Nasty Nas
16 ‘Prisoners of War’ [Demo Version] – Simply II Positive MCs aka Organized Konfusion
17 ‘Public Enemy #1’ [Demo Version] – Public Enemy²
18 ‘Cazanova’ [Demo Version] – J Rock
19 ‘Who Shot Ya’ [Demo Version] – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Keith Murray³
20 ‘Real Estate’ [Demo Version] – Cypress Hill
21 ‘Bring Da Ruckus’ [Demo Version] – Wu-Tang Clan

1. This was recorded in 1994, which explains why his delivery sounds like something that could have been on Black Bastards.
2. Complete with Mr. Magic offering Chuck D some ‘constructive criticism’ regarding his delivery, which is a lot stronger on the final version.
3. Recorded for a Mary J. Blige skit but Biggie’s part was removed and later turned into the infamous solo track. Fun fact: A hung-over K. Murray asked me to email me this MP3 after I asked him about it in 2008.