Peace to DJ Gems...

Funk Master Flex show from 1990.

DJ Bass Boy mix from 1994.

1985 Tape of a B-Boy Mix

Everyone should have a few relics in there collection.

More famous in another incarnation...

One of the most slept-on albums of the past ten years or so is Akenyele's Aktapuss. Aside from Necro and Kool Keith's forays into sex-rap, Aktapuss holds the distinction to be one of the few sex-themed albums to come out, let alone come out dope.

I'll admit, I slept. When it came out in 1999 I was unschooled as far as Ak's importance to the NYC hip hop scene. By 2001 I was checking for him and caught up somewhat by way of dollar bins at small vinyl shops. I also didn't realized the heavyweights Ak ran with and enlisted for production. Dr. Butcher, Large Professor, S.B.K., Buckwild, and Lord Finesse all made solid contributions to Aktapuss.

I bought my copy of the album around this time last year and what I immediatly noticed was how familiar some of the songs sounded. In the genre of hip hop, this kind of de ja vous is not uncommon as a lot of producers build songs from the same sources. What made this albums different is that, in my opinion, all of these familiar samples were utilized better than in their more famous incarnations.

"Juan Valdez, Love" uses the same string sample that RJD2 gave to Copywrite for "June." While Ak's subject matter may not be as nerdy as RJD2 fans would like, the beat is not as complex or layered as RJ's attempt and it comes off as more street-oriented. On one hand one might contend that Ak's use of this beat is not nearly as well played or thought out as Copywrite's but I beg to differ. The way Ak draws out the Juan Valdez metaphor is just as erudite as Copywrite's pathos-laden pleas to his departed father, if not more. Both songs detail the flaws of man, I guess it's something in the sample that effects both men similarly.

"Really Love Me" shares the same sample Stoupe used for one of the original AOTP songs, "Five Perfect Exertions." Again, I feel Ak's use of this track is better than Stoupe's but this is no fault of the producers: Akafella is just an MC supperior to anyone in AOTP.

Perhaps the best use of a familiar sample on this album is the aptly titled "Niggas and Bitches," which uses the same sample as Cormega's "Dead Man Walking." While "Dead Man Walking" is a loop-based track, Dr. Butcher's version is a funky trip into the depths of Dr. Dre's Chronic-contaminated brain with a seething synth that squeezes the life out of the piano sample. Sounds good in the car, sounds good in the club, sounds good durring a gang rape at a lacrosse party.

If you haven't already picked up Aktapuss do pick it up used and then find Rumplstlitzkin and tell him he can have his crown back... this shit bangs! Regretably I don't have time to rip the audio from my RJD2, Cormega, and AOTP wax but the songs are much more popular than Ak's material, especially online, so chances are you already have them or you'vee heard them before.

In the mean time:

Selections from Aktapuss

Found a ot of links to some rare shit last night, just figured I'd share.

But first and foremost, peace to my man Sigma from the PhilaFlava board for hooking this up.

Pete Rock and CL Smooth- Never Coming Out

Heather B- Takin' Mine LP

Da Bush Babees- Ambushed

E Money Bags- I'm The Wrong Nigga to Fuck With

In E-Money Bags We Trust

Screwball- Unreleased EP

PHD- Without Warning (1991 LP that includes a very early Cormega Appearance)

Frankenstien- Live From NY Remix Album

Enjoy,

MGP

Gutter shit...

If anyone remembers when I first started this blog they might remember a song I uploaded by Rah da Raw Deal. I wasn't able to recall the name but I found the album it came from, the Will Tell Compilation pt.2.

A lot of people aren't up on Will Tell or his involvement in the underground scene in Brooklyn. When Thirstin Howl III and his clique were coming up Will Tell put him all over his compilation. Other artists include Pumpkinhead, Brooklyn Akademy, C-Rayz Walz, and Jean Grae. Funny how Will Tell was so deep in the game in 2000 and 2001, a lot of his people went on to do much bigger things (C-Rayz on Def Juz and Jean Grae with Little Brother).

There are a lot of other unknown rappers on his compilation, one of my favorite is Icon. This Icon has nothing to do with the City of Brotherly Love. He eventually was added to Brooklyn Ak's line-up but for whatever reason that crew is always in flux and I am not sure if he a a member anymore. Be sure to check out his tracks.

Will Tell Compilation Vol. 2

If anyone has Volume One please hook that up. I had it and lost it in a house fire. Volume Two is a good abum but Volume One was SICK!

-MGP

I can't believe I've been this busy but I wanted to keep you all updated about what's going on here.

I'm in the middle of making some moves and time is something I don't have a lot of right now.

In the interim please find comfort in the following:

Same Old Sample

This is a mix that blends a lot of dope stuff together. It relies on songs that use the same sample. For instance Fat Joe's "Bad Man" and Jay Z's "Where I'm From" are mixed together. Then there is the blend with Scarface and MOP because they both did songs that flipped the same sample (in this case the sample for "My Block."). This is one of my favorite mixes and I think most of you will enjoy. A lot of original samples are blended throughout this as well.

What else do I have today? How about a 22 minute blend of break used for samples? This little joint put together by Mordecai is great. I don't think any of this is that rare but if you are new to sampling and want to see get a better understanding of the musical genres that birthed what we know to be modern hip hop production then check this out. A lot of the samples should be familiar to you.

Peace to Mordecai and his Slow Burning Breaks

Here is the tracklisting:

1. RUSH - Tom Sawyer
2. Stanley Turrentine - Hope That We Can Be Together Soon
3. Linda Clifford - Never Gonna Stop
4. Donny Hathaway - Little Ghetto Boy
5. Tavares - Bad Times
6. Patrice Rushen - Remind Me
7. Commodores - Cebu
8. Jimmy McGriff - Tapioca
9. Quincy Jones - Along Came Betty
10. Bob James - Storm King
11. Alan Parsons Project - A Dream Within A Dream
12. Ronnie Laws - Fever
13. Love Unlimited Orchestra - Midnight Groove
14. Ohio Players - Pride and Vanity
15. Blue Mitchell - Delilah
16. Jimmy McGriff - Back on Track
17. Sylvia Striplin - You Can't Turn Me Away
18. Grover Washingon, Jr. - Hydra
19. Hamilton Bohannon - Save Their Souls
20. Gwen McCrae - Rockin' Chair
21. Kraftwerk - Man Machine
22. Jimmy Spicer - Dollar Bill Yall

Cumming soon:

www.goodprose.net

I am using that site as a vehicle to launch my first novel and I will be selling mix cds and rare hip hop shit through the store on the site. The homepage is up but none of the links are working. Check it out and let me know what you think...

Enjoy the mix and next week I'll be back with more consistent updates.

-MGP

Here are a few gems...

I've been busy but in the meantime:

Future Flavas Radio from August 26th, 2001

Appearances from RZA, Masta Killa, and Killarmy. Sound quality isn't very good, it was recorded from a spot in Jersey an hour from NYC mind you. Little RZA interview as well. Little RZA freestyle around minute 40.

Nas Freestyle from the Capital Rap Show, London, 1994.

Probably my favorite Nas freestyle. I love the beat in the background. Can anyone ID it for me?

Main One ft. The Smith Brothers- Cross Examination

Taken from Main One's album in 1997, somewhat rare Trigger the Gambler and Smoothe the Hustler appearance.

Nonce- World Ultimate LP

My favorite indie album from the West Coast. RIP Yousef Afloat. If you don't have this album then you aren't hip hop. This may be one of the most fun albums to listen to for an older head such as myself. So mellow, so cool, and embodies the spirit of hip hop as it exists outside of the album itself. This album is a 5/5.

New shit from Dinco D. from Leaders of the New School as well... Fuck "Touch It". If you don't know that Dinco is light years ahead of Bussa Bus... now you know, newjack!

Old School Mix

This is a mix I picked up in England on CD sometime in 2001. It's all old school shit and mixed very well.

I have no idea who put this together, I found it for five pounds in a store in Brixton. Nothing but classics from the 80s by Audio Two, Slick Rick, Rakim Allah, G. Rap, BDK, and lots of others plus TONS of classic breaks being freaked along the way. Great little 60-minute mix really.

If anyone has any info on who put this together please let me know.

Unknown Old School Mix from England

-MGP

EDIT!

Peace to that n*gga HustleCrowe. He hooked up the For My People mix cd by DJ Mekalek. This is another old school mix.

For My People

Yeah, yeah... worship that...