Like it's 1996 again...

Short update today. I came across a track by a Brooklyn MC named "meyhem." I think he is a former Lo Life. The beat reminds me of a dusty night in the mid-ninties, the writing and flow are sick to boot.

meyhem- The Pledge

And a leak from the Lakey the Kid and Cormega album called "30-30". Dopest West Coast-styled beat in a minute and it's a monster. Lakey keeps it gutter on here too.

Shakespeare update tomorrow...

Yes we wicked, we wicked...

The early 1990s saw the rise of a number of trends in hip hop. One of horrorcore's distant cousins is the island influence of Reggae-styled rap music.

While Expedia and travel commercials on television will lead one to believe that Caribbean hot-spots are little mountains of heaven rising triumphantly from the clear waters of the Atlantic, the image could not be further from the truth. Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica and a number of other islands were at one point hostile lands of rampant murder and violent confrontation. The compulsive "death culture" that this way of life birthed can be unearthed in the music of its sons and daughters. While the Bob Marleys of the world tried to move in a positive direction and call for peace, the next generation called for attention and cast light onto the problem itself by manifesting the horrors of their realities in their era's music. As gangsta rap rose to imminence in America, so to did violently-themed reggae and dance hall in the islands.

In 1992 the world first heard the remarkably distinct voice of Don Jagwarr on Ice Cube's single "Wicked" from his Predator LP. The ferocity of his voice, high pitched and fast moving over a chaotic track, was reminiscent of a pack of cunning jackals. The LA Riots-themed beat was a freshly-killed animal that was now being feasted on. Indeed, a handsome meal had been provided to our ears.

Two years later Don Jagwarr was set to put out his first and only album on Priority Records. Ice Cube was the Executive Producer. I am not sure if it was ever commercially released, as every copy I've ever seen has been a promo, but there was a video for the terrific single "Who Do U Fear." While the album stayed contemporary with tales of LA gang life, the production is indeed hit or miss. Regardless, this is a rare album with quite a few gems on it that shouldn't be overlooked. If you are a fan of the Boot Camp Clik and the Jamaican styling they employed early in their career, look no further. This album will surly cure whatever ails you.

One small bit of irony can be found on this album. In 1994 the friction between the right and left coasts had not yet escalated to full-scale beef but the seeds were clearly being sown. This was the year that Bad Boy Records would splash on the scene and make a lot of noise and idle chatter quickly turned into loud proclamations that the East was taking its crown back courtesy of Biggie and his crew at Bad Boy Records. Track two of this album, titled "Bad Boy," may or may not be a subliminal shot at the camp. The tone is set early by Ice Cube, who states "I don't give a FUCK about no mother fuckin'... BAD BOY. This is Bad Bay K-O all muthafuckin' day. You know what I'm sayin'... we comin' from the West Side with this." While Don Jagwaar's lyrics concentrate on an enemy who tries to kill him, Cube's words can clearly be taken to mean a number of things. I can't recall Cube ever calling stick-up kids and gang bangers "bad boys" on any of his previous material. Cube would later go on to set beef with an irrational interpretation of a Common Sense line and fire ill-conceived warning shots at Common and the East on tracks like "Westside Slaughter House." Let's face it, he hasn't been the same since.

In the end I can't tell you what ever became of Don Jagwarr, but we know what happened to Ice Cube. He melted under the heat of cooking beef and all that was left was a watery mess, perfect for wishy-washy Diseny movies and half-assed Aftermath releases. Jagwarr's album was solid. There is a lot of good writing on this album and some classic West Coast production as well. It's short and sweet. While some tracks are hit or miss the album as a whole is cohesive and enjoyable.

Don Jagwarr- Faded LP (1994)

Uncle Christopher

A lot of people feel the need to hate on one of my favorite rappers, Mr. Hyde.

If you think Hyde is too gory or too violent, fine. Plain and simple the man can rhyme his ass off. What sets Hyde apart from his counterparts is how intricate his rhyme structure is. At times "complex" is not strong enough a word to describe Mr. Hyde's rhyme paterns. He syllabicates better than just about anyone out there. Take a look at this shit:

Enter my gladiator games where I have to hate the sane/
You kid is in my basement, to the radiator, chained/
Bubble in their flesh, makin' trouble plus a mess/
I give 'em clean clothes so their underwear is fresh/
Spring-Morning scented, I'm more than demented/
Like the horror flick from the gore I just rented/
My flow stops hearts, son your just givin' light thrills/
One glimpse of my ice-grille convinces you I kill/
Menacing looks, good like venison cooked/
Droppin' biblical gems like in the Genesis book/
Yo you feminine shook, I caught you runnin' from puppies/
When I don't break a sweat for niggas comin' to bug me/
Learn from the bold, give 'em burners to hold/
Those concerned with their gold, I rather turn you to mold/
Dust and debris, put all your trust into me/
I'm using rulers to see how deep my cuts have to be/
Yo, you bustin' at me? I'll take the gat from you kid/
Split your hat to your wig, you family might have to dig/
To find your remains, how about I dine on your brains?/
You forget how hot hell is?/
How about I remind you with flames/

-Mr. Hyde on the Halftime Show on May 10th,2000.

(Peace to O.L.... I didn't give out the whole thing... only this verse and in poor quality as well!)

What I like about Hyde is how funny and demanted his is. Sure, others have raped about rape and child molestation, but no one ever made listening to it as enjoyable as Hyde.

Hyde did not get his start with Necro. He used to rhyme under the alias "Uncle Christopher" as a part of the Mad Choppers Crew, MCC. He also was a member of Catch 22 with Ex-Lib. Just so you know, Ex-Lib is not a rapper in the same mold as Hyde or Necro. He does a lot of battle shit but he also does a lot of conceptual shit too. In MCC, Uncle Christopher rapped about child molestation, having butt-sex with nuns, and other topics that purists normally find too taboo for traditional hip hop. In Catch 22 the themes were more battle-oriented and believe it or not, Hyde can battle rap with the best of them.

If you don't believe me, here are the infamous Hyde basement tapes with MCC. The MCC team is no joke either, especially Raida and Ex Lib (who is no longer down).

The Hyde Basement Tapes with MCC, Courtessy of DJ Mike Nice

Why am I giving these out? Well, thanks to a fuck face in the UK it's already out there. You know who you are, you're a faggot and a disgrace. Now that I've come across 50+ people who have this I feel it's not fair to keep it to myself. Enjoy. I'm not happy about this, but I see it as a chance for Hyde to get the props that he deserves.

And of course I have another Hyde rarity for you all... Necro and Hyde freestyling at WKCR dissing Ras Kass and threatening him. This isn't too rare, really, but the fact that it's two minutes longer than the other one floating around out there with some extra verses makes this a treat.

Fuck Ras Kass, he's a bitch... a little midget with a wart for a head and it's going to get popped

But wait, there is more. How about Hyde and Ex-Lib doing it battle-rap steez? You ain't ready for this. This is my favorite Hyde verse ever and Ex-Lib destroys this track:

For all you catfish with dicks in your asses... you suck on big, fat, floppy donkey dick!

Oh and beware, I'm doing an update on Ex-Lib and Shakespeare later this week.

Whether it's getting stabbed by five guys at a bar and taking the knives from the guys and putting them on life support and goping to jail for it, or threatening Ras Kass and James Earl Jones, or shreading Necro's masterful beats Hyde is a force to admired on the mic. Nothing he says about killing you is a joke, maybe it isn't out of the question that he is touching your children in their most intimate places either.

Continuing a post from Vinyl Addicts...

Recently someone asked me about Half Pit Half Dead. Some of you might remember them from a post at Vinyl Addicts. It was there that crate-digger supreme Smoov reviewed this 12':












Well, he also mentioned that one song from this 12' (Better Off Dead) was included on a soundtrack called "The Fear," which I believe is some kind of horror flick. Well, what Smoov may not have known at the time is that the crew Half Pit Half Dead consisted of the members Half Pit, Half Dead, Machette, and Infared.

Now take a look at the tracklist for the soundtrack:

01. Esham - The Fear (Morty's Theme)
02. Half Pit & Machete - Black Peter
03. Gravediggaz - Here Come The Gravediggaz
04. Headless Horsemen - Necrophobia
05. Half Pit Half Dead - Better Off Dead
06. Natas - Life After Death
07. Machete - Fear, Flesh & Blood
08. Terror - Graveyard Tales
09. Insane Clown Posse - Dead Body Man
10. Esham - Rocks Off
11. Infared - Infared's Terror
12. Flatlinerz - Run
13. Kim Waters - Sweet & Saxy (A Moment Of Calm Before You Die)

It appears that there are more Half Pit Healf Dead songs out there that people didn't notice.

If you were interested in hearing more material from the Half Pit Half Dead crew now is your chance. Here is a link to the soundtrack, and please excuse the ICP/Esham/Natas garbage, courtessy of Poizon.

The Fear Soundtrack

Now, there seems do be a lot of confusion about the geographical origin of the Half Pit Half Dead crew. One of the crew members references being out of NYC, but their 12' came out on Motor Jam Records- which is out of Detroit- and there are a lot of Detroit artists on this soundtrack. But, there also happen to be a handful of NY artists too. If anyone reading this can clarify where this crew is from and what other material they might have out, please hit me up and elaborate so that I can recount it for everyone else.

A video from my favorite rapper out of Canada.

Great dis to Bishop as well.

Chuggo- C'Mon Fucking Guy

Cormega gives a history lesson:

"I didnt get in Trag DVD cause it was some white dude
who NEVER beeen to QB tellin the story!
As far as Trag on some real shit before me????
(...)If it was streets I disagree though Trag did grow up
going threw shit and if its rap
then I dont even have to respond
go back to PHD album (1991)
listen to my verse I was rapping about guns" My device has
a long clip with infra red light" (Goodfellas had the mac 11 with infra)
I was rappin bout drugs "Hotday supplys the base like a drug dealer"
"Dont front on me shorty ya mans workin for me" "I leave the fuckin
mic smokin like base pipes" "Kick down doors like TNT in a drug bust" (cause I was the ONLY rapper sellin
at that time) I was rappin about jail "I set it off like a soldier in
4 main" and actually I sent Trag a subliminal "Cormega can never
be imitated Motivators fear the poetry I generated" (we had a rivalry
back then but we never batted) and we always had respect for
each others skill thats why today me and Trag are so close
I can honestly say hes one of my best friends out of all the rappers.
Anyway like I said I was the 1st hard street rapper in QB In 91
Trag was a positive pro black rapper and Mobb Deep were
called "The Poetical Prophets" and Nas was lyrical. Actually Poet from
Screwball was rappin street before them too! I was a pioneer
I was just rappin what I was living!"

It's not rare, I my have grabbed this from another blog actually (though I own an original as well on wax) but here is what Cormega is talking about:

PHD ft. Cormega- Set It (1991)

And fuck whoever here likes club rap music... this is that hard shit from QB for your whip... not that new Mobb Deep garbage.

Remember that little radio kick I was on a minute ago... well it continues.

Radio is where hip hop lives and unfolds, the internet shouldn't make its archaic means irrelavent.

MF Grimm Interview and Album Preview on the Halftime Show

This just happened a few weeks ago. Every night ill shit gets played but how many of us tune in for it?

By the way, this shit sounds super nice. I'm up for a 3LP from Grimm any day.

MAD RESPECT TO VEGA!

(and to think I'm paying one of the HHH.org gang respect...)

but on the real, peace... god. you're definetly holding shit down right now.

Just a few things I want to say:

1.) I want to give props and respect to my man J.F.B. who just came home last night from prison. It's been eight long years, WELCOME HOME N*GGA!

If I don't update this blog for a few days, just know that JFB, MGP, and the whole crew will be hitting up every stip club and crack den from AC to Philly.

JFB: "Yo, my cellmate told me them AK's be like, 150 dollars in Michigan yo. Let's go rob a cabbie, take his car, buy some weed, and go for a ride?!?!?!?!"

Uh, no. Not this time.

JFB: "Sellout."

For those of you in the dark about this, well just know that JFB will be contributing to this blog from time to time with all kinds of jail stories, tips on how to conceal your crimes, and how to sleep well at night when questionable actions burden your conscious.

2.) Some early 90's flavor for you all today: Justin Warfield- Season of the Vick

I've had this for a minute, very smooth track.

3.) Another gem. Anyone remember the first installment of The Swarm, a compilation RZA put out in 1998? Most of the attention this album got was due to Holocaust, who made his first appearances via The Black Knights. Anyway, my favorite song on that entire album was from The Beggaz and it was called "On the Strength." I know little about the group other than the fact that one member, I believe Father Lord, died. Some cats were from Virginia and the crew split up. Some quit rap entirely, the others recorded under the name Black Lotus (and I think there is another group recording under than name doing Southern-style crunk shit or g-shit... don't know for sure).

Anyway, the Beggaz had a 12' out a year before their Swarm cameo and though I never got a copy of it (I am still searching and I will pay a lot of money for a copy of it, so if you have it and are willing to part with it let me know), the only other song I could track down by them is called "Iron Wire." If you liked "On the Strength" as much as I did I am sure you'll dig this too.

4.) Anyone still care about turntablism? If so, here is something from the Halftime Show 5th Aniversarry in 2003. DJ A-Trak came by and destroyed the set with his skills on the 1's and 2's. I heard this guy DJs for Kanye West right now too. I'm not big on Kanye (but I do think Diamonds are Forever is one of the best songs I've heard in many years), but if this is true about A-Trak being his DJ... then Kanye just earned a bit more respect from me. The only other thing I ever liked by Kanye was that shit about George Bush not caring about black people, because I feel he's right and that needed to be said for everyone to hear.

Anyway: A-Trak on the Halftime Show

5.) Sadly, I've recieved word that one of my favorite digging spots will cease to be in the near future. The Sound Library and A1 Records have been NYC staples for years. While I was more inclined to dig at Upstairs Records, I loved TSL. Every few months I like to grab a thousand-stack and just go buy records and the first place I go is TSL because I know that whatever I need they have, no matter how rare. Now don't get me wrong, the prices are steep there but it's only steep for the trendy faggots. If you can stay ahead of the trends of collectors, many good deals could be had at TSL. Before Company Flow's second pressing of the Funcrusher EP (pre-Rawkus) on clear vinyl began going for in upwards of 100 dollars I bought five copies from TSL for ten dollars each. If you're wondering, they've since made me a lot of money. Same thing goes for my Cormega test pressings, my G. Rap shit, and my Ill Advised collection. A lot of things can be had there for really cheap if youre open-minded to different styles of hip hop.

From what I understand TSL will not be renewing it's lease at the end of the summer. I hope that gives me time to run up there another time and drop a grand.
----------

Tomorrow I am going to Philly to pick up some more vinyl. Treats abound in the coming updates.

And no, I didn't forget that rare Peddi shit I promised. Shit's just been hectic between babies being born and friends coming home from the pen.

-MGP