Monday, June 24, 2013

BeaT FaCToRy`s "RaP ESSeNTiaLs VoL. 1"...


What`s good y`all? Today I`m gon` take things back to 1996 with one of the best, if not the best Canadian Hip Hop compilation to ever be released! What I`m referring to is Beat Factory`s "Rap Essentials Volume One". It`s a compilation of various Canadian artists (though most are reppin` Toronto) consisting of 12 tracks in total & they`re all phat, my opinion of course! The only downside about this compilation in my ears is the fact that a majority of these tracks are edited for some reason or another. Aside from that though every song on here is iLL, there`s not one weak track! It`s definitely more on the underground Hip Hop type of vibe, so if you DiG that kind of style you`re in for a real treat...

The first joint on this comp` "Fitnredi" is by the Rascalz, a trio (Misfit, Red 1 & their DJ Kemo) that`s reppin` Van City (Vancouver for y`all non~Canadians). The track is one of 3 on this compilation that were nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 1997 Juno Awards. Following the opening track is "Boiling Point" by the Concrete Mob, another Canadian Hip Hop trio (Deuce Deuce, Black Jack & producer Scam) but these kats are reppin` T-DoT (Toronto for the uninformed) instead. "Boiling Point" is the joint that really got these kats some shine, especially across the border over in the US. "Learn To Earn" is the third track on this comp`, it`s by production crew Down To Erf (Steely Dan & Wal) & features Mathematik on the mic rockin` the rhymes. All three of these kats are reppin` Toronto. Next up is the second track of the compilation to be nominated for a 1997 Juno Award for Best Rap Recording, a joint by Toronto`s Kardinal Offishall titled "Naughty Dread". Still remember when I first heard it `cuz it`s actually the first song that I had ever heard from Kardi`...


Wio-K`s "Sunlight"...


Takin` the fifth spot on the comp` is Black-I`s "No Lawz", homie reps Toronto well over the militant~type beat. Toronto`s Wio-K follows things up with the DJ X produced "Sunlight" bringin` some Caribbean vibes with a T-DoT twist. The "Who`s Talking Weight [Rmx]" by the duo Redlife (Remey & Action) comes next. It`s a decent track, but honestly I DiG the original much more than the remix. One of this compilation`s iLLeST tracks comes from Toronto`s Dan-E-O, it`s titled "Dear Hip Hop" & is produced by Concrete Mob`s Scam. You could compare this joint to Common`s "I Used To Love H.E.R." & say that it`s almost like the Canadian equivalent, definitely well worth the listen!!!


"Who`s Talking Weight?" by Redlife...



Dan-E-O`s "Dear Hip Hop"...


Scales Empire`s "Bright Lights Big City"...



Scales Empire, a duo consisting of Kandu & T-Wyze bring some "Bright Lights Big City" to the table. This joint is the 3rd song of the compilation to be nominated for the Best Rap Recording at the 1997 Juno Awards. The tenth track is one of my fav`s on this comp`, it`s by Toronto`s Choclair & it`s titled "Twenty One Years". This joint is one of the very songs that helped Choclair garner some major props in the Hip Hop world. I also believe that this is the song that DJ Premier sampled for Gangstarr`s "You Know My Steez". Citizen Kane, a trio (Aje, Rob Blow & Swinger Spade) reppin` Toronto, contributes the compilation`s second last track titled "Structure, Foundation" produced by Down To Erf. Things come to an ending with "U.L." a track by another trio reppin` the T-DoT Ghetto Concept. So there ya have it, a lil` run down of the compilation now go `head & check it out for ya`self! You`ll be glad ya did, trust me...





Label: Beat Factory Music Inc.
Released: 1996




1. Fitnredi {Rascalz}
2. Boiling Point {Concrete Mob}
3. Learn To Earn {Down To Erf ft. Mathematik}
4. Naughty Dread {Kardinal Offishall}
5. No Lawz {Black-I}
6. Sunlight {Wio-K}
7. Who`s Talking Weight? [Rmx] {Redlife} 
8. Dear Hip Hop {Dan-E-O}
9. Bright Lights Big City {Scales Empire}
10. Twenty One Years {Choclair}
11. Structure, Foundation {Citizen Kane}
12. U.L. {Ghetto Concept}




















N`JoY...

Thursday, June 20, 2013

"TouGHeR THaN LeaTHeR" [MoViE]...

What`s up y`all? Today I`m gon` share with y`all somewhat of a hidden gem, it comes in the form of a film from 1988 titled "Tougher Than Leather". It stars Run DMC, Russell Simmons & Rick Rubin, but also has lil` cameos from the Beastie Boys & even Slick Rick. It`s not the iLLeST written movie & probably falls into the B-Movie category, but for a fan of Hip Hop it`s definitely worth at least one viewing. A quick summary of this flick goes a lil` somethin` like this; Run DMC gets signed to a record label run by Vic Ferrante (played by Rick Rubin). Vic`s label`s actually a front, he`s using it to launder his father`s dirty money. Obviously with a label like that some grimy ish was happening behind the scenes & unfortunately for Runny Ray (one of Run DMC`s homies) he happens to see Vic & his boys killing someone so he ends up gettin` murked as well. Run DMC finds out about their boy being murdered & that sends `em on a mission to track down his killer. I kept the summary pretty basic so I didn`t ruin the movie for ya......LoL, just so ya know it`s in .flv file format which isn`t the best quality I know, but that`s the format I had so it is what it is. You can view it using the VLC Player without an issue...


 



Released: 1988
Run Time: 86 mins.













R.i.P. JaM MaSTeR JaY...

Monday, June 10, 2013

DoNaLD-D`s "NoToRiouS"...

 

 
What`s happenin` y`all? Hope all is well on your side of the tracks! With today`s post I`m gon` be taking y`all back to 1989 with somethin` from Donald-D, the Microphone King. It`s actually his debut album titled "Notorious" which was released thru Epic with production handled by Afrika Islam as well as Donald-D himself. While his homie & fellow Rhyme Syndicate member Ice-T executively produced it. Now I`m gon` have to be honest & say that I`m just getting into Donald-D`s music now in 2013.....LoL, yup I have been sleepin` on this kat. Always heard Ice-T BiGG`n him up on his albums & what not, just never had the urge to actively search out the Microphone King`s music. It was actually some requests thru this very blog for this album that made me check for it & you know what? I am kind of glad that I gave the album a chance because it`s a decent listen for sure...



  Apparently Donald-D`s first taste of Hip Hop was as a B-Boy breakin` on the Bronx streets, but he really introduced himself the Hip Hop world as a member of the As Salaam Brothers crew along with Easy AD & DJ Rashid. They did a few local house parties & some out door jams. The group didn`t last all that long though, but Donald-D wasn`t about to let that stop his Hip Hop. Not that long after the As Salaam Brothers disbanded he became a member of the Universal Zulu Nation & he also linked up with some other kats to form another group called The Funk Machine. The Funk Machine was a 6 man crew which consisted of 3 emcees & 3 DJ`s. The members were; Donald-D, El Jay, Kid Vicious, DJ Superman, DJ Jazzy Jay & DJ Afrika Islam. While a member of the group Donald-D perfected his microphone skills, one of his strong points was his ability to spit great story~telling rhymes. Then in 1983 DJ Afrika Islam started a radio show on W.H.B.I. called "Zulu Beats" along with DJ Red Alert. Whenever they needed an emcee to rock the mic of course Islam invited his homie Donald-D to spit his story~telling raps. The radio show`s intro was even done by actors Cheech & Chong...
 
 
 





His appearances on the "Zulu Beats" shows got Donald-D enough recognition that eventually the CEO of Vinetertainment Records took notice of D`s talent. He decided to visit the radio station that the show was broadcasting from to meet up with Donald-D to voice his interest in working with him. Shortly after that D hooked up with DJ Chuck Chill Out & the two of them formed the group The B-Boys. As a duo they recorded 3 songs in total; "Two-Three Break", "Rock The House" & "Cuttin` Herbie". After those three records DJ Chuck Chill Out decided to go solo so Donald-D decided to add DJ Master-T & another emcee named Brother-B to the group... 
 
 

 


 
Now a trio they recorded the tracks "Stick Up Kid", "Girls" & "Girls Pt. 2". Eventually DJ Master-T decided to leave the group so he was replaced by an old high school friend named DJ Jazzy-G. Not long after that though their record label felt that they no longer needed The B-Boys on their roster. That`s when Donald-D decided that he was going to go solo & left the group. The first songs that he recorded as a soloist were done in 1987 & they were titled "Outlaw" & "Dope Jam" released on the label Rockin` Hard Records as a 12 inch single. In 1988 he decided to head out to the West Coast & linked up with Ice-T becoming a member of the Ryhme Syndicate. He made his West Coast debut on the Rhyme Syndicate compilation "Comin` Through" on the track titled "The Name Of The Game" which also featured his homie Bronx Style Bob...

 



Finally, in 1989 Donald-D signed with Sony Records to record his first solo album titled "Notorious". Like I mentioned before his old DJ, Afrika Islam handled most of the production. Donald-D helped out while Ice-T was the executive producer & also makes the only guest appearance on the album appearing on "Lost In A Freestyle". Overall Donald-D can rip the mic, but I find that he truly shines when he`s flexing the story~telling rhymes. Standout joints for me are; "F.B.I.", the album`s lead single is a track that warns listeners of the dangers of Crack use from every angle. Donald-D`s observations cover the women that become hoes, the children that end up neglected & when it comes to the dealer he even talks about those he sells to like the sports star & the famous & rich & how it affected them. "Who Got The Gun?" is a great storytelling joint that involves police brutality, corrupt cops, shoot-outs, false accusations & of course a missing firearm....LoL
 
 
 


"Armed & Dangerous" is a good track that promotes unity & freedom of speech. "Car Chase" is another storytelling joint, this one involves a bank robbery & the escape that ensues afterwards. "Lost In A Freestyle" is a decent collabo` with his homie Ice-T, it has a nice 'freestyle' type of vibe to it as they pass the mic amongst each other. Overall there`s really only 2 joints on the album that seem a lil` out of place. The first one is "A Letter I`ll Never Send", it seems like a joint that LL Cool J would`ve done. It`s a love song...not a bad one, but in comparison to what else is on the album it just doesn`t really fit. The other song is pretty much the complete opposite of "A Letter I`ll Never Send" & this one`s titled "Just Suck".....LoL, you can tell that Ice-T had a lil` influence on this joint. It`s in the same vein as Ice`s "Girls L.G.B.N.A.F." so you know it`s stacked full of X-rated rhymes. Aside from those 2 songs the rest of the album is pretty solid & fluid, the beats mesh well with the content of the tracks. Go `head & check this album out, I know I slept on this joint. Don`t make the same mistake I did, the album`s well worth the time that you`ll spend listening to it...











Label: Epic
Released: 1989



1. Intro
2. Notorious
3. F.B.I.
4.Who Got The Gun?
5. Syndicate Posse
6. A Letter I`ll Never Send
7. Armed & Dangerous
8. Car Chase
9. Just Suck
10. Lost In A Freestyle {ft. Ice-T}
11. On Tour
12. Another Night In The Bronx






















N`JoY...