SaGeiNFiNiTe`s "GReaT MiNDs THiNK ALiKe"...

Got some very iLL Hip Hop to share with y`all comin` courtesy of my homie Wyze Intellect. Sure he`s the one behind the bangin` beats on this project, but that`s besides the point the music really speaks for itself. He teamed up with SageInfinite, an emcee from New Jersey who knows how to flex them lyrics. Wyze Intellect reps Canada & provides the DoPe backdrops for `Infinite to spit his bars to. So what you`re gon` hear is what happens when the Can-Am connection (Canadian/ American in case ya couldn`t figure it out ) works well sonically & lyrically. The project is titled "Great Minds Think Alike" & was released December 7th, 2013 so y`all are getting it while it`s still hot & fresh out the studio.....LoL, One thing that my homie WiNGNuT mentioned while we were both giving this project a listen was that SageInfinite`s vocal tone kind of sounds a little like Mobb Deep`s Prodigy, I could see where he was going with that thought. Don`t get it twisted though y`all `Infinite`s style on the mic is much more lyrical in my opinion...


 Now let`s get to the music shall we? The Intro is short & to the point, nothing super spectacular but it`s not wack either. "Let It Begin" is where the listener really gets to hear what their ears can expect from the rest of this project; a solid beat matched up with equally nice lyrics. On "Hunger" Sage speaks on just that, his hunger to strive & survive over a nice thumpin` backdrop. With it`s simplistic hook "Slap Boxing" is one of my favorite joints, even if it is a lil` on the short side. The braggdocio lyrics of "You Know My Style" mesh well with it`s mellow`D out hazy type beat. "What`s Ya` Life Worth?" has a deep thought provoking vibe to it, Wyze Intellect`s instrumental really compliments `Infinite`s rhymes tackling the subject of self worth...


Comin` again with some deep mental sparkin` lyrics on "The Puzzle", Sage let`s the listeners know that Life`s a Puzzle & that it`s definitely a struggle to make the pieces fit into their place. The iLL piano riffs on "Fear" backed by the thumpin` drums make for a nice head~noddin` piece. `Infinite speaks on the many fears of living Life, stuff that most heads ponder on but if they let it consume them they wouldn`t be able to live out their day to day lives. "Adrenaline" is a shorter song pumped full of lyrics that rep` that "high speed Life". The "Ghetto [Rmx]" opens up with some Joe Pesci samples from a movie that escapes my mind at the moment (it`s probably "Good Fellas"), anyway the aggressiveness of the beat provides a good foundation for Sage`s tough talkin` rhymes...


On "Welcome To My Universe" Sage invites the listeners on a journey into his state of mind while Wyze Intellect helps fuel the trip with his hypnotic instrumental. The beat on "Heat!" for some reason reminds me of playin` a good ol` school 8-bit NES video game like "Megaman" or something.....LoL, nostalgia indeed. `Infinite lets folks know on "Run" that he`s doin` it for the love of the art that Hip Hop is not just for the hype & lime light, he gets his point across with some DoPe lyrics on this one. The remix for "What`s Ya` Life Worth?" is pretty sweet, I`m not sure which beat I DiG more the original or this one. Both tracks are solid joints to peep that`s fo` sho`! "What The Game`s Missin`" has a grimy lil` backdrop to it while `Infinite spits it for Hip Hop. The closing track on this project is my favorite song, "As Time Goes By" has `Infinite speakin` on how the Hip Hop game has switched up & it`s occupants all pretty much cater to the 'Machine' (Industry) in order to gain their plaques...


In my opinion overall "Great Minds Think Alike" makes for a good solid listen, especially if your a fan of that underground Hip Hop sound. Both these kats compliment each other & work well together, one doesn`t out~shine the other. I am definitely lookin` forward to hearing another collabo` between these two that`s for sure. So go `head & hit up the bandcamp site, peep their tunes & if ya DiG the music get your free DL of the project for your listening pleasure...

SageInfinite - Great Minds Think Alike

Label: N/A

Released: 2013

1. Intro

2. Let It Begin

3. Hunger

4. Slap Boxing

5. You Know My Style

6. What`s Ya` Life Worth?

7. The Puzzle

8. Fear

9. Adrenaline

10. Ghetto [Rmx]

11. Welcome To My Universe

12. Heat!

13. Run

14. What`s Ya` Life Worth? [Rmx]

15. What The Game`s Missin`

16. As Time Goes By







 https://wyzeintellect.bandcamp.com/





N`JoY...

CaNiBuS` "CaN-I-BuS [HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN]"...

Today I`m hittin` y`all off with another HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN, this time around I`ve decided to dust off the debut album from Canibus which dropped back in 1998 titled "Can-I-Bus". I know some of y`all are asking why? Especially after he straight up embarrassed himself by trying to battle Dizaster at KOTD, that`s alright though. Honestly I will admit to being really disappointed when this album dropped & I copped it. I mean after hearing Canibus rippin` the mixtape scene & pretty much every guest appearance that he had in 1997 I was kind of expecting some of that raw Hip Hop to show up on his debut, but upon my first listen I didn`t really hear it. The main problem with the album is that the production is kind of weak. I believe that Wyclef had just a lil` too much input on this album, from the beats he supplied to the directions that he decided to take the album. Sure Canibus has some co-production credit on the album, but it`s only on 4 of the 13 tracks (14 if you got the UK release). Both Wyclef & Jerry Wonder just really couldn`t provide the right backdrops to truly complement Canibus` lyrical style & I think that`s probably why a lot of folks dismiss this album as complete & utter shit...

Fifteen years after it`s release I decided to go back to it & give it another listen, this time with a little more of an open mind. Once you get passed the fact that the production is far from grade A the album really isn`t all that bad of a listen. Sure there are some weak moments, but overall "Can-I-Bus" still sounds better than a lot of the music that is being released now~a~days.....LoL, it`s truly Canibus` lyrics that save the album of course. Let`s get into the album now shall we? The Intro is a lil` on the lame side with `Bis hackin` a computer deleting government files....LoL, luckily it`s only about 70 seconds long. The first actual song on the album "Patriots" is a collabo` with female emcee Free while Fugee member Pras handling the hook duty. Honestly I think that Free outshines `Bis on this song dropping lines like; 

..."Specimen with extraterrestrial estrogen

Kick your intestines in, sell your testicles to Mexicans"...

 

After hearing Free`s verse it makes me ask the question, why didn`t she ever release a solo album? "Get Retarded" was a song that got a lot of play on the college Hip Hop radio shows back in `98. The Salaam Remi produced beat with the Roxanne Shante sample on the hook made it easy for Canibus to flex his lyrics. "Niggonometry" has a nice lil` funky vibe to it with a hook that`s scratched, Jerry Wonder didn`t do too bad with this one. The song itself is kind of like A Tribe Called Quest`s "What" except Canibus flips it more on the mathematical tip. Towards the end of the song there`s even a lil` swipe at LL Cool J. A sample of some guy says, "Hey I been sittin` here trying to think of what we can do with this here letter L..." Then they scratch in "F-U-C-K" & then the letter L follows & is echoed so it sounds like LL.....LoL, guess that was their way of easing the listeners into the LL Cool J DiSS track "2nd Round K.O." featuring former boxer Mike Tyson...

"2nd Round K.O." is probably the album`s best track, not because of the whole LL DiSS but more so because it`s a song that actually allows that battle hungry/ underground emcee to show his true colors over a beat that`s also one of the album`s better moments production~wise. "What`s Going On?" is an anti gun anthem that has `Bis askin` the knuckle~heads to leave the firearms at home when headin` out for the night. A song that speaks for most of the fans of Hip Hop, you know the ones that aren`t packin` heat but beats instead. Wyclef then decides to follow things up with "I Honor U", one of the album`s weaker moments. I say Wyclef because you can just tell that this joint is all his idea; from it`s lame uninspiring beat to it`s R&B styled hook. You can see that he was attempting to go for radio play with this one, talking about failed relationships from the female`s side of things -- the only problem is that the attempt isn`t all that well executed...

The hippy~vibed "Hype-Nitis" is an ode to Biz Markie`s CLaSSiC song "Vapors" that features Jenny Fujita singing the hook. "How We Roll" has Canibus rippin` his lyrics over a boom~bapp`N beat produced by Clark Kent while Panama P.I. takes on the duty of handling the hook. "Channel Zero" features an uncredited appearance from Mr. Cheeks of the Lost Boyz who can be heard delivering the song`s hook while Canibus spits UFO conspiracy influenced flows over another Clark Kent production. "Let`s Ride" is another one of the album`s weaker tracks, although the beat is pretty lame Canibus still manages to rap well over it. "Buckingham Palace" has Canibus delivering some quality lyrics over a moody~vibed beat, sure the hook`s a lil` simplistic but aside from that this joint is definitely a good listen. "Rip Rock" comes off as a lame attempt at sounding like Run DMC with it`s Rock-n-Roll influenced beat produced by Jerry Wonder, while `Bis sounds a lil` awkward flowin` over the instrumental. This is where the album would end if you had the US or Canadian versions, but if you got your hands on the UK release there`s actually a bonus track on there. The extra song in question is titled "How Come?" & it features Youssou N`Dour & Wyclef, it was originally featured as the third song on the "Bulworth Soundtrack"...

So that`s my thoughts on the original incarnation of the album, now let`s get to the 'bonus cuts' that I decided to add on to the album to give it a lil` extended play. The first song is the "Black Out Remix" of Yvette Michele`s joint "DJ Keep Playin`" featuring both Canibus & Black Rob. I`ve always dug that Yvette Michele song & how can ya go wrong with `Bis & Rob as features? It`s off a 12 inch single if you`re curious. "Group Home Family" was originally featured on the soundtrack to the 1997 film "Sprung", it`s a collabo` joint between Canibus, Panama P.I. & Mr. Cheeks. "Uni-4-Orm" is another collabo` that features Ras Kass, Canibus & Heltah Skeltah that was originally on the soundtrack to the 1996 Hip Hop documentary "Rhyme & Reason". "Seriously" is a Funkmaster Flex produced track that`s from the Flip Squad Allstar DJ`s album released back in 1998 featuring Boe & Villa, two kats who I have never heard of. The "4-3-2-1 Rmx" is off an LL Cool J 12 inch single for that song, figured that I would include the song that started the whole beef between `Bis & LL. I decided to follow that joint up with the original verse that Canibus spit for "4-3-2-1", just wish I had the entire song without any DJ adlibs. The last track on here is a live extended version of "2nd Round K.O." that Canibus performed while he was on Kiss FM London back in 1998. Gotta BiG~uP DJ Step One for that joint, much appreciated homie! Don`t wait any longer, go `head & give the album another listen you may just enjoy it this time around...

Canibus - Can-I-Bus [HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN]

Label: Universal Records

Released: 1998-2013

1. Intro

2. Patriots {ft. Pras & Free}

3. Get Retarded

4. Niggonometry

5. 2nd Round K.O. {ft. Mike Tyson}

6. What`s Going On?

7. I Honor U {ft. MB^2}

8. Hype-Nitis {ft. Jenny Fujita}

9. How We Roll {ft. Panama P.I.}

10. Channel Zero {ft. Mr. Cheeks}

11. Let`s Ride {ft. Pras, Product & Wyclef}

12. Buckingham Palace

13. Rip Rock

14. How Come? {ft. Youssou N`Dour & Wyclef}

15. DJ Keep Playin` [Black Out Rmx] {ft. Yvette Michele & Black Rob}

16. Group Home Family {ft. Mr. Cheeks & Panama P.I.}

17. Uni-4-Orm {ft. Ras Kass & Heltah Skeltah}

18. Seriously {ft. Funkmaster Flex, Boe & Villa}

19. 4-3-2-1 [E-Dub Rmx] {ft. Method Man, Redman, DMX, Master P & LL Cool J}

20. 4-3-2-1 [Original Verse]

21. 2nd Round Knockout [Live on Kiss FM London (1998)]

 

N`JoY...

CaSSiDy`s "I`m A HuSTLa [PRoMo 12 iNCH]"...

I hope y`all had a great Thanksgiving with your families! I sure did; ate good & spent quality time with some loved ones. Anyways I have another 12 inch to share with y`all, this one is by Philly emcee Cassidy. Now I`m gon` be all the way honest & state that I haven`t really listened to much of his music, but this song was getting plenty of play when it first dropped. So I am a lil` familiar with this tune, actually it reminds me of my cousin Dawson`s son because every time the song came on he`d start to sing the hook which is a Jay-Z sample from "Dirt Off Your Shoulders", what a memory! This 12 inch single was released by J Records back in 2005 & is produced by Swizz Beatz. You get 4 tracks in total on this promo single; the Clean or Radio Version, the Dirty or LP Version, the Instrumental (with adlibs unfortunately) & last but not least the Acappella which thankfully is not censored. I always hate when they choose to use the censored version of the track for the acappella to me it`s just stupid. So there y`all have it, go on & give it a listen...

Cassidy - I`m A Hustla [Promo 12 Inch]

Label: J Records

Released: 2005

1. I`m A Hustla [Clean Version]

2. I`m A Hustla [Instr.]

3. I`m A Hustla [Dirty Version]

4. I`m A Hustla [Dirty Version Acappella]

N`JoY...

"BiG PuN: The LeGaCy" [DoCuMeNTaRy]...

Today I have a lil` documentary for y`all to check out about the late & great Big Pun that was released back in 2009. It`s titled "Big Pun: The Legacy" & it was directed by Vlad Yudin & was released thru Vivendi Entertainment clockin` in at roughly 90 minutes in length. Overall I think that it`s a great documentary, Vlad Yudin does an awesome job puttin` this together. I really dug the entire film from the opening montage all the way thru to the conclusion where Vlad documents Big Pun`s final days. It was also iLL hearing from some of the artists that Pun worked with, influenced or both...   

Yudin takes the viewers on a 90 minute tour of Big Pun`s Life; from the ups, the downs, the tragedy, the success, his childhood, his hustlin` days, his relationship with his wife Lisa, how he was as a father, to the food addictions & depression. You definitely get a good look at what made Christopher Rios the one that the Hip Hop world knows as Big Pun. You also get a lil` footage that was previously unseen by the public as well as a huge chunk of info` about Pun that most fans probably didn`t know about. Now I don`t want to give away too much about the documentary because I want y`all to actually watch it so I just leave ya with this lil` final thought about it; it`s a great documentary that gives us pretty much a complete 360 degree view of Big Pun, flaws & all. It definitely honors "the first Latin to go platinum" & doesn`t tarnish his legacy at all. Well worth the watch, so go `head & check it out...

 Big Pun: The Legacy

Released: 2009

R.i.P. BiG PuN...

40 THeVZ` "HoNoR AMoNGST THeVZ"...

 

 

Goin` back to 1997 once again with this post but this time around I`m sharing with y`all the debut album from the 40 Thevz titled "Honor Amongst Thevz" released thru Mercury. Info~wise I don`t know very much about this duo consisting of brothers; Henry Straughter a.k.a. P.S. & Malieek Straughter a.k.a. Leek Ratt. They were down with Coolio that much I do know.....LoL, most of y`all may remember `em from their feature on the Coolio track "C U When U Get There" off the "Nothing To Lose Soundtrack", it`s a decent joint with a nice vibe to it...

P.S. was also featured on "Thought You Knew" off Coolio`s 1994 debut album "It Takes A Thief". The following year in 1995 they made a few appearances on Coolio`s second album "Gangsta`s Paradise" on the tracks ; "Geto Highlites","Exercise Yo` Game" & "Get Up Get Down". They also had the Coolio collabo` "Dial A Jam" on the 1995 soundtrack to the "Jerky Boys" movie & then in 1996 they had a track featured on the "Eddie Soundtrack" titled "Ain`t No Love". Coolio gave `em a few more features on his 1997 album titled "My Soul" on the tracks; "One Mo`", "Throwdown 2000" & the previously mentioned "C U When U Get There". Then in 1999 the 40 Thevz released their second album "Lef 4 Dead" independently on their own label 40 Thevz Records. After that from what I can tell the duo dropped out of Hip Hop`s radar, please correct me if I`m wrong...

As for their debut album, overall it`s a pretty solid listen. With it`s Funk~influenced groovin` bass lines & synthesizer work, the beats are sure to get ya` head noddin`. Most of the beats on here bang hard, they definitely give the speakers in my ride a good thumpin` anyway (peep "Mad Doggin`"). "Honor Amongst Thevz" is not your typical Gangsta Rap album, the Thevz cover a variety of topics definitely going beyond cars, bitches & violence. For example they speak for the youth of today on "Thank God For The Children" & then on "Crazy Love" they cover the topic of folks in love & how crazy it can be. The Thevz do a good job on their own with this effort, especially since most would think that they would have had Coolio all over the album based on their previous collabo`s. It`s a gesture that`s really appreciated by this listener because it gives the Thevz an opportunity for themselves to develop their own identity. Sure they do get a feature from their homie & that`s obviously expected & happens on "One For The Money"; a cautionary joint about ca$h hungry folks out for self & no one else -- but that`s it, well aside from him being the album`s producer of course...

"Tennis Shoe Pimpin`" may have a lil` familiar sounding beat to some, they interpolate Queen`s "Another One Bites The Dust" with a lil` of the Sugar Hill Gang`s "Rapper`s Delight" thrown into the mix to make it a nice lil` catchy tune. My favorite joint on the album is the laid back "Let My Mind Be Free". The beat just straight compliments their lyrics & puts you in a good chillin` mindset. The self motivating "Never Gonna Get Nowhere" has a nice thumpin` beat backin` to it, while the Thevz talk about the pros of believing in ya`self. Female emcee Malika makes a few guest appearances on the album, three tracks to be exact with one of `em being a CD~only bonus cut. Some of y`all may remember her from her appearances on Coolio`s "Gangsta`s Paradise" album on the tracks "Cruisin`" & "Get Up Get Down", but she`s also worked with Celly Cel, Sleepdank & L.A. Posse...

 

 

 Her first appearance on the 40 Thevz album comes on "All I Wanna Do"; a male~female collabo` about two people down to fuck, but at the same time they`re trying to set some ground rules before things jump off. The CD~only bonus joint is just another version of "All I Wanna Do". Malika`s second appearance is on "Group Therapy"; a joint that has all three emcees ventin` their skills on the mic. "I Like It" samples the all too familiar song by KC & The Sunshine Band "That`s The Way I Like It", but the Thevz put their lil` G twist on it of course. The only joint on the album that I`m not a huge fan of is The Dramatics collabo` "Fly Away". It`s not really a wack song, I just find that it`s a lil` too slow for my liking. So there ya have it y`all, go `head & peep the album for ya`self. Oh yeah & please excuse the mislabeling of the folder....LoL, I have it as Honor Among Thevz, but don`t worry once you unzip it all the files are tagged correctly...

40 Thevz - Honor Amongst Thevz

Label: Mercury

Released: 1997

1. It`s Alright

2. Mad Doggin`

3. Tennis Shoe Pimpin`

4. One For The Money {ft. Coolio}

5. Never Gonna Get Nowhere

6. Let My Mind Be Free

7. Thank God For The Children

8. All I Wanna Do {ft. Malika}

9. Crazy Love

10. Get Away

11. What Would I Be?

12. I Like It

13. Fly Away {ft. The Dramatics}

14. Group Therapy {ft. Malika}

15. All I Wanna Do [P.S. Version]* {ft. Malika}

*= CD only bonus track

MeGa LiNK...

FiLeSWaP LiNK...

SoLiDFiLeS LiNK...

N`JoY...

AZ`s "HeY AZ [PRoMo 12 iNCH]"...

It`s been a while since I posted up a 12 inch single so I figured I`d hit y`all with something from AZ seeing as how I posted up that "L.O.D.B" Mixtape back in October. Gotta BiG uP the homie Dirt Dog for hookin` me up with this lil` promo 12 inch, much appreciated dogg!!!

Now let`s get to the music shall we? First off this is the "Hey AZ" Promo 12 Inch that was released back in 1997. It was actually set to be the lead single off AZ`s second album "Pieces Of A Man" which dropped in 1998, but for whatever reason once the album was released this track wasn`t even featured on it at all. I`m not sure why exactly, maybe the label was disappointed in the initial response that the single received. Only the label & AZ himself know for sure....oh & well maybe Tone & Poke a.k.a. the Trackmasters, after all they did produce the single...

 Some of y`all may recognize the beat that the Trackmasters used for this joint, that`s because they sampled the World`s Famous Supreme Team`s "Hey DJ". R&B fans may also recognize the tune as well seeing as how Mariah Carey`s joint "Honey" used it as well. While I`m talkin` about R&B, the female trio Sisters With Voices a.k.a. SWV are featured on "Hey AZ" -- they`re signing the hook wonderfully. You get 5 tracks on this 12 inch & obviously I`m DiGG`n the Dirty Version the most out of the 3 versions of this track...

The only difference that I could hear between the Clean Version & the Alternative Clean Version was that the Alternative was a lil` bit longer of a track, aside from that they sounded pretty much the same to me. The one thing that I have to complain about on this 12 Inch is that the Acapella is the edited version! I`ve always hated when they choose to give you the censored Acapella because to me that just isn`t the true version of the track, but this is only my opinion of course. Anyway go `head & peep the single out for ya`self...

AZ - Hey AZ [Promo 12 Inch]

Label: EMI Records

Released: 1997

1. Hey AZ [Clean Version] {ft. SWV}

2. Hey AZ [Instr.]

3. Hey AZ [Dirty] {ft. SWV}

4. Hey AZ [Alternate Clean Version] {ft. SWV}

5. Hey AZ [Clean Acapella] {ft. SWV}

FiLeSWaP LiNK...

SoLiDFiLeS LiNK...

N`JoY...

JV`s "NaYBa`HooD QueeN"...

Re~uPP`d, originally posted 01.23.2010...

First off I gotta have a lil` moment of silence for the homie Jsta & his dead blog Back 2 Da OG, the reason being? He`s the kat that originally posted up the album that I`m sharing with y`all today. It`s a DaMn shame that his blog is no longer around because he was a very informative kat when it came to West Coast Hip Hop. So much love & BiG uPs goes out to him wherever he`s at now~a~days, now let me get back to the music that I`m sharing with y`all...

Jennifer Velarde or as the Hip Hop world knows her JV reps Downey, California & she released her debut album in 1994 titled "Nayba`Hood Queen" thru Thump Records. Production was handled by The Baka Boyz, Kid Frost, Tony Alvarez, Chris Gunn & Jon St. James. JV wrote most of her stuff, but Kid Frost did lend a helping hand on 3 of the albums tracks. Aside from that though she pretty much did her own thing when it comes to the lyrics. With that being said though I do have to mention that she doesn`t really spit anything mind~blowin`, she`s not terrible but she`s definitely far from bein` in Remy Ma`s circles....LoL

What really saves the album from being totally passed over is the G-Funk beats that she raps over, the production should manage to hold your attention. The album`s title track is my favorite, maybe it`s because of the lil` Eazy-E sample.....LoL, anyway I find that it`s really the last few tracks that are the ones that standout the most, especially "Slow Down" the collabo` with A.L.T. & Kid Frost (which I mislabeled while tagging the track, I put A.T.L. instead....LoL, my bad). Anyways I do not know any more about JV so if anyone out there does, please feel free to school me. For now, go `head & check out the album if you`re curious...

JV - Nayba`Hood Queen

Label: Thump Records

Released: 1994

1. Stompin` On The Concrete (Like We Own The Street)
2. G-String

3. Dog U Out {ft. Kid Frost}

4. Big Girl

5. Back To Da Hood Of Things {ft. Chris Gunn}

6. Nayba`Hood Queen

7. I Need A Man`s Touch {ft. Khrys Allen}

8. Time Keeps Slippin` Away (But I Keep Goin` On) {ft. Melanie Taylor-Kimmel}

 9. Slow Down {ft. A.L.T. & Kid Frost}

10. Give It 2 Me JV {ft. Tommy Gun}
11. Girlz Do It Betta

SoLiDFiLeS LiNK...

N`JoY...

BuSTDoWN`s "NaSTy BiTCH CHaPTeR 1"...

Today I have some good ol` ignorant Rap music for y`all listening pleasure, this album`s definitely not for the simp~ass suckas. Goin` back to 1991 with this over~looked & under~appreciated joint from New Orleans` own Bustdown, the album`s titled "Nasty Bitch Chapter 1". With a title like that you should have a lil` idea of what`s in store for your ears. Back in the day if you were a young buck this is the kind of music that you`d need to sneak to listen to `cuz if most parents heard the content ish would definitely hit the fan. Lookin` at the album`s cover art you can see that this is some doggin` a bitch type shit, hoes ain`t gettin` any love on this one. Sorry ladies! I mean for starters you have the dog character steppin` on a chick`s head with his Ballys while he`s grabbin` his jock with one hand & in the other he`s holdin` a Zack Morris brick~phone.....LoL, ah the good ol` days. The dog character`s also rockin` a hoody with "ITAS" across the chest, jokingly my boy Zoo Dawg says that it stands for "I Talk Alotta Shit".....LoL, he could be right who knows? Anyways this album was released thru Luke Records/ Effect Records, with production from Mike Fresh, DJ Toomp & Rodney Terry...

That`s pretty much all that I know about this kat named Bustdown. Now if I were to describe his style for those that haven`t heard this album I guess I would say that he`s got some Slick Rick type storytelling abilities mixed with a lil` Willie D attitude in his lyrics. He clearly holds his tongue for no one, saying pretty much any & everything that you could imagine. Clearly this isn`t something that Ned Flanders would be BuMP`n in his whip while cruising the strip, but once you get passed the shock value of his lyrics the album`s not all that bad really. Aside from being vulgar Bustdown really has a knack for telling stories & his voice is one that definitely commands respect. Now let`s discuss the album shall we? At just under 45 minutes in length it`s a lil` on the short side, but Bustdown makes up for it with content. The album`s title track "Nasty Bitch" is probably the joint that most folks know Bustdown for. It`s kind of like a parody of Too $hort`s "Freaky Tales". When a chick`s "pussy hole smelled like sour cream & onion" you know it`s definitely not in the same lane as $hort Dog`s joint...LoL, "Pop That Thang"  has Bustdown kickin` some lyrics about gettin` the honeys to do just what the title of the track says. Next up is a joint for the shoe lovers, before Nelly was talkin` about Air Force One`s Bustdown was tellin` folks to "Putcha` Ballys On", remember back when them kicks were the lick?....LoL, oh my have times changed...

"Just Kick-N-It" has Bustdown flexin` his rhymin` skills on the mic with it`s fresh lil` freestyle vibe. "Trick Daddy" is a joint for those kats that like to claim that it ain`t trickin` if ya got it, well Bustdown begs to differ my friend. "Pissin` Razor Blades" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of goin` raw dawg in them broads, definitely one of them CLaSSiC STD Raps fo` yo` ass! "Was It Worth It?" has Bustdown expressing the thoughts that were heavy on his mind at the time, askin` his fellow brothers if their way of Life was really the right decision. "Fellas In The `Hood" is a laid~back joint stocked full of braggadicio rhymes, reminds me of the kind of ish you`d hear when you`re kickin` flows with ya` boys on the block. The album closes out with "Dedication" which is a shout~out joint, a DaMn shame though because Bustdown`s giving his shout~outs over a beat that utilizes the same sample that Da Beatminerz used for Black Moon`s hit single "Got Cha Opin". It would`ve been DoPe to hear Bustdown spit over that beat, but hey that`s really the only complaint that I have about the album. Overall I`d said that it`s a solid album, so there ya have it now go `head & give it a listen...

Bustdown - Nasty Bitch Chapter 1

Label: Effect Records/ Luke Records

Released: 1991

1. Introduction

2. Nasty Bitch

3. Pop That Thang

4. Putcha` Ballys On

5. Just Kick-N-It

6. Interlude #1

7. Trick Daddy

8. Interlude #2

9. Pissin` Razor Blades

10. Was It Worth It?

11. Fellas In The `Hood

12. Dedication

N`JoY...

HeaTHeR B`s "TaKiN` MiNe [HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN]"...

Yes~yes y`all today I`ve got another album for y`all that received the HeRBaN DeLuXe treatment! I reached all the way back to 1996 to give this under~appreciated female emcee`s debut album some much deserved ReSPeCT. The album I`m referring to is from New Jersey`s own Heather B. & is titled "Takin` Mine", originally released thru EMI/ Pendulum Records. At just over 40 minutes in length & only 10 tracks deep her debut offering is somewhat short, much like Da Brat`s "Funkdafied" album -- but for what both these albums lack in length they make up for in DoPe music! Just goes to show you that like the saying goes, sometimes less is more...

Anyways, for those that aren`t familiar with Heather B. let me drop a quick lil` introduction for ya. From what I know she first stepped onto the Hip Hop scene in the early 1990`s thru her connection with Boogie Down Productions, appearing on BDP`s 1990 album "Edutainment" on the long~ass track titled "7 Dee Jays" (it`s just over 9 minutes in length) along with KRS-One, D-Nice, Jamal-Ski, Harmony & Ms.Melodie. She followed that up with an appearance on KRS-One`s H.E.A.L. (Human Education Against Lies) project on the 1991 compilation album "Civilization vs. Technology" on the solo track "Don`t Hold Us Back"...

Then in 1992 thru Elektra she released her first 12 inch single "I Get Wreck" b/w "Get A Job" with production handled by Kenny Parker. It was also around this time that she was cast for the first season of MTV`s Real World (New York), a 'reality' show that focuses on the lives of a group of strangers all living together in a SoHo loft for a few months while cameras film their ups & downs. While on the show Heather B. is shown in the studio working on her debut album which at the time was going to be titled "The System Sucks". I`m not sure if that album ended up being renamed "Takin` Mine" or if there`s some unreleased tracks from those sessions, either way "The System Sucks" never seen a release date...

 Fast forward a few years to 1995, Heather B. releases another 12 inch single thru Front Page Entertainment under the moniker Misunderstood titled "The Real Ruff & Rugged" b/w "One To One" produced by KRS-One. She followed up that single with 2 more 12 inches this time released under Heather B. & they were the anti~gun anthem "All Glocks Down" & the grimy & hard "No Doubt (Get Hardcore)" with it`s iLL Biggie sample on the hook, both singles were produced by Kenny Parker. After generating a solid buzz on the mixtape circuit with "All Glocks Down" she released another 12 inch in 1996 produced by Kenny Parker titled "If Headz Only Knew" which eventually became the lead single for her debut album "Takin` Mine"...

I`m guessing that since Heather & Kenny Parker had such good chemistry while working in the studio together that`s the main reason behind Kenny producing 9 of the albums 10 tracks, "Real Niggaz Up" was produced by Da Beatminerz. They do make great music together so I`m not complaining, Kenny provides her with some great backdrops to mesh perfectly with her rugged & raw lyrics. Don`t expect any X~rated sex rhymes on this album `cuz Heather B. presents herself as more of a tomboy flexing a hardcore street style kind of similar to that of the Lady Of Rage, a good example is on the M.O.P. collabo` "My Kinda Nigga"...

Overall out of the 10 joints that are on the album, I can`t really say that any of them are weak. Now obviously some stand out a bit more than others like "All Glocks Down", the heart~felt Hip Hop dedication joint "If Headz Only Knew", the rowdy M.O.P. collabo` joint "My Kinda Nigga" & "No Doubt (Get Hardcore)", but with that being said there`s not one filler track on here. "Takin` Mine" is most definitely a solid debut at least to my ears anyway. Like I mentioned before though I found it to be a lil` on the short side so I decided to make it an HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN by adding a few tracks to it. The bonus joints if you will consist of "Don`t Hold Us Back" from the H.E.A.L. compilation, "7 Dee Jays" off BDP`s "Edutainment" -- I did cut roughly a minute off this joint to make room for the "Tony Touch Freestyle", but y`all don`t really miss out on much anyway. I also included her Misunderstood joint "One To One", my apologies on the sound quality though `cuz it`s ripped from a cassette...

"I Get Wreck" & "Get A Job" from her 1992 12 inch single also make the cut along with the "All Glocks Down [Extended Mix Tape Version]" from the "All Glocks Down" 12 inch. The sequel to her M.O.P. collabo` "My Kinda Nigga Pt. 2" was added which is originally off of M.O.P.`s "First Family 4 Life" album. The last track that I need to mention is "Cloud 9" featuring Ajax which is from a 1997 12 inch single. So there ya have it y`all, all these joints will fit on an 80 minute CD so you shouldn`t have any trouble BuMP`n it in ya ride, enjoy...

 

Heather B. – Takin` Mine [HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN]

Label: EMI/ Pendulum Records

Released: 1996-2013

1. Da Heartbreaka

2. All Glocks Down

3. If Headz Only Knew

4. My Kinda Nigga {ft. M.O.P.}

5. Takin` Mine

6. Mad Bent

7. Sendin` `Em Back

8. No Doubt (Get Hardcore)

9. Real Niggaz Up

10. What Goes On?

11. Don`t Hold Us Back

12. 7 Dee Jays {KRS-One ft. D-Nice, Heather B, Jamal-Ski, Harmony & Ms. Melodie}

13. One To One {Misunderstood a.k.a. Heather B.}

14. I Get Wreck [Dirty]

15. Get A Job [Dirty]

16. All Glocks Down [Extended Mix Tape Version]

17. My Kinda Nigga Part II {M.O.P. ft. Heather B}

18. Cloud 9 {ft. Ajax}

19. Tony Touch Freestyle

FiLeSWaP LiNK...

SoLiDFiLeS LiNK...

N`JoY...