TaPeMaSTeRS iNc. & KeYZ PReSeNT - "2PaC: Runnin` WiTH An OuTLaW"...

Since I didn`t have any cassette rips to share for the Tuesday Tape Rip series this week I figured that I could at the very least share with y`all this mixtape that I`ve been listening to for the last few days. Lately there`s been quite a few 2Pac news articles being published on the various Hip Hop news sites, so naturally I`ve been checkin` `em out. I can only guess that all the media attention given to `Pac was due to the fact that his birthday had just passed on June 16th. Anyway, all that reading that I was doing also led to me dustin` off this mixtape presented by Tapemasters Inc. & Keyz titled "2Pac: Runnin` With An Outlaw" which they released back in 2005, it`s a pretty solid effort overall. They definitely made some great selections when it came to the songs that they picked for this mixtape. Since it was the 12th edition of their Collabo series Tapemasters Inc. & Keyz decided to choose some of 2Pac`s better collaborations although some of them were created after his death like "Loyal To The Game" with 50 Cent & G-Unit or "N.I.G.G.A." with Jadakiss for example...

The only downside (it`s only minor) about this joint is that they chose to use the edited version of the `Pac & Scarface collabo` "Smile". Aside from that though this joint is almost a 5 star effort. I think had they used the original versions of "Loyal To The Game", "Runnin`", "One Day At A Time" & "Military Minds" then this mixtape would`ve been gold star sticker worthy....LoL, my opinion of course. I`ve never been a super huge fan of `Pac like say my cousin Dawson is, but I definitely am a fan of the man`s work! He had some great charisma on the mic & when he spit his lyrics you definitely felt them. Whether he was spittin` DiSSeS, some political ish or even some positive uplifting stuff for the women, whatever it was he made sure that you experienced some type of emotion. It really is a DaMn shame that he was taken away from us so early in his career! I`m sure he would`ve been doing some great things had he not been killed in Las Vegas. Hopefully someday soon in the near future they can figure out who was TRULY responsible for taking his Life so justice can be served & we no longer have to see the theories (here`s a nice lil` article about some of them). Wishful thinking, yes I know, but hey I had to put it out there. Anyway take a lil` trip while listening to this joint & enjoy some of `Pac's best collaboration songs spanning from early in his career all the way to after his death. I`m sure you`ll like it even if you aren`t a 2Pac fan...

Tapemasters Inc. & Keyz Present - 2Pac: Runnin` With An Outlaw (Collabo Edition 12)

Label: N/A

Released: 2005

1. Loyal To The Game {ft. 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks & Young Buck}

2. N.I.G.G.A. {ft. Jadakiss}

3. Got My Mind Made Up {ft. Method Man, Redman, Daz & Kurupt}

4. 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted {ft. Snoop Dogg}

5. California Love {ft. Dr. Dre}

6. Wanted Dead Or Alive {ft. Snoop Dogg}

7. Runnin` (Dying To Live) {ft. Notorious B.I.G.}

8. One Day At A Time [Em`s Version] {ft. Eminem}

9. Smile {ft. Scarface}

10. Thugz Mansion [Nas Acoustic] {ft. Nas}

11. How Do U Want It {ft. K-Ci & JoJo}

12. Toss It Up {ft. Aaron Hall, K-Ci & JoJo}

13. All `Bout U {ft. Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg & Dru Down}

14. I Get Around {ft. Digital Underground}

15. World Wide Mob Figgaz {ft. Outlawz}

16. Deadly Combination {ft. Big L}

17. Last Wordz {ft. Ice Cube & Ice-T}

18. 5 Deadly Venoms {ft. Treach, Apache & Live Squad}

19. Military Minds {ft. Cocoa Brovaz & Buckshot}

20. 1st To Bomb {ft. Daz}

21. Hail Mary {ft. Outlawz}

22. Freestyle {ft. Notorious B.I.G.}

23. Same Song {ft. Digital Underground}

24. Teardrops & Closed Caskets {ft. Outlawz & Nate Dogg}

25. I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto {ft. Brownstone}

The Mediafire link file password is FR33Mu$1C

MeGa LiNK...

R.i.P. 2PaC...

FoXy BRoWn`s "CoMe FLy WiTH Me [CD SiNGLe]"...

Here`s another Foxy Brown single that was released in 2005 by Roc-A-Fella Records for the much anticipated (but yet to be released) "Black Roses" album, yes another unreleased Foxy Brown album! For those that may not have known Foxy left Def Jam around 2004 or so because they had cancelled the release of her "Ill Na Na 2: The Fever" album (although promo copies did see a limited release). Pissed off about the whole thing she bounced from the label, but after reuniting with Jay-Z while performing some shows during his Best Of Both World Tours she linked up with him on a business tip. She was originally set to be the first artist signed to Jigga`s S. Carter Records imprint, but once Jay-Z became the new president & CEO of Def Jam all plans for his imprint were put on hold/ cancelled. So he then resigned Foxy to Def Jam again as one of the first artists on his new roster. I can only guess that`s where the whole Roc-A-Fella/ Def Jam relationship stems from for the first couple of "Black Roses" singles that were released in 2005 by the labels...


Unfortunately "Black Roses" was also never released which sucks like $2 hooker$ on pay~day because it apparently featured production from the likes of Dave Kelly, The Neptunes, Trackmasters, Timbaland as well as Kanye West. Foxy Brown also confirmed that she had guest appearances from Spragga Benz, Baby Cham, Rakim, KRS-One, Mos Def, Shyne, Barrington Levy, Luther Vandross, Dido, Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z & even Roxanne Shante. Both lists are pretty impressing, so one can only imagine what the album was cookin` up to be. Sadly Foxy announced on December 8, 2005 that she was experiencing sudden & severe sensorineural hearing loss in both of her ears. She had kept it a secret from most for about 6 months, I`m guessing she was afraid to tell anyone. Although I think that would be a silly route to take considering that as a recording artist you kind of need the use of your ears, but hey only God knows what was going thru her mind at the time. Anyway during this time she obviously pushed the "Black Roses" album aside to focus more on regaining her hearing...

Thankfully she was fortunate enough to have her hearing restored thru surgery around June of 2006 & she had planned to resume recording & working on the "Black Roses" album which was hopeful for a release towards the end of 2006 (December) although her label didn`t set a date. Rumors then began to circulate in November of 2006 that Jigga wasn`t too impressed with the progress, or lack there of, on her album & he was planning to drop her from the label. Shortly after these rumors began the some~what 'planned' December 2006 release for "Black Roses" was cancelled altogether. Eventually Brown once again left Def Jam in August of 2007 & linked up with Black Hand Entertainment for a management deal, Chaz Williams then became her manager. The plan after leaving Def Jam for the second time was that she was going to launch an independent label called Black Roses Entertainment that was going to have distribution thru Koch Records. To tide her fans over until she could release her much anticipated "Black Roses" album she decided to release a street album titled "Brooklyn Don Diva" which dropped in 2008 shortly before she was released from prison (that whole manicurists assault thing). Sadly the street album didn`t do as well as she expected & things began to sour between her & Black Hand Entertainment. Eventually they both parted ways & as for the "Black Roses" album it still remains unreleased. All that I have seen materialize from it are a few singles & this one that I`m sharing with y`all is one of them...





So excuse the long winded explanation about the "Black Roses" album, but I wanted to school those that may not have known about it. As for the single I`m sharing with y`all it`s titled "Come Fly With Me" & it features Reggae artist Sizzla. You get 4 tracks on here; Radio, Instrumental, Call-Out Hook & the Dirty Roc-A-Pella. It`s a shame that they chose not to include the LP version of the song, but hey if you`ve got some DJ~type skills you can take the Instrumental & just mix in the Roc-A-Pella & you`ll have the album version for your listening pleasure. The track itself is decent, obviously you`re gon` need to enjoy some X~rated hood flavored raps with a Reggae vibe to `em, but overall the track`s not bad. So check it out for ya`self & enjoy...

Foxy Brown - Come Fly With Me [CD Single]
Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
Released: 2005



1. Come Fly With Me [Radio] {ft. Sizzla}
2. Come Fly With Me [Instr.]
3. Come Fly With Me [Call-Out Hook] {ft. Sizzla}
4. Come Fly With Me [Dirty Roc-A-Pella] {ft. Sizzla}








MeGa LiNK...









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...

MaTHeMaTiK`s "No DiViSioN"...

Re~uPP`d, originally posted on 04.09.2012...

Dust`n off a nice Canadian HiP HoP gem for y`all today, it comes in the form of Toronto emcee Mathematik`s "No Division" released back in 2005. I was diggin` thru a few stacks of my CD`s & found this joint, hadn`t heard it in a while so I threw it in the stereo. It`s still a good listen today, if you`re a fan of some good ol` boom bap type HiP HoP then this album`s definitely for you! With production from his Down To Erf crew as well as some production from the likes of Mr. Attic, DJ Serious & Saukrates, Mathematik catches wreck all over the head~noddin` backdrops provided by these veteran Toronto beat merchants...

"If It Isn`t" opens the album up nicely, Mathematik spits lyrics about his devotion to being an emcee over a boom bapp`n beat seasoned by keys & a nice lil` play on New Edition`s "If It Isn`t Love". That joint right there should give you an idea of what you can expect on this album...pure HiP HoP; rhymes, breakin` & DJ`n. You can also hear Math`s growth as an emcee as he steps out of his comfort~zone tacklin` double~time rhyme patterns on "Who`s Wit` Me?", takin` charge of hypersonic soundscapes on "Attack" & he even takes a shot at sped~up samples on "The Righteous" all without sacrificing his lyrics or soundin` corny. If you`re lookin` to listen to some good ol` HiP HoP with a nice positive & spiritual vibe (no preachin` don`t worry....LoL) to it then look no further. Check it out & enjoy...

Mathematik - No Division

Label: Urbnet Records

Released: 2005

1. Intro

2. If It Isn`t

3. Was, Is, Will. [Interlude]

4. Was, Is, Will.

5. Situation

6. Letter 2 John [Interlude]

7. Letter 2 John

8. The Perfect Storm

9. Dilligence

10. Free Your Soul

11. Still The Same

12. The Righteous

13. Attack

14. Somethin` For Them [Interlude]

15. Play 2 Win

16. Toronto

17. Arose Countdown [Interlude]

18. Who`s Wit` Me

19. Outro

BaCK~uP LiNK...

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I had to cut about ten seconds off of the "Outro" because it was a scratched, pops & clicks galore, so I just faded it out...

N`JoY...

HeaTHeR HuNTeR`s "The UnExPeCTeD"...

Re~WRiTTeN with Re~uPP`d LiNKs as of 08.03.2014...

For those that have been livin` under a rock Heather Hunter is mostly known for her porn` career, adult film if ya want to get all technical. She`s appeared in numerous flicks & is the first African America woman to be inducted into the Adult Film Hall Of Fame. What some of y`all may not know is that her roots in HiP HoP go a lil` ways back, she used to work at the famed Latin Quarter club back in the day...
 

"My first memory of Hip Hop was the first time I actually saw Public Enemy perform at "Latin Quarter." It was a famous Hip Hop club in the early `80's, basically in the beginning of Hip Hop. I saw Public Enemy perform & that inspired me. That`s when I was consumed with Hip Hop..."


 
She LiNK`d up with the likes of DJ Premier, Scott Storch, Phantom Of The Beat & A Freedom Lyles for production on her album. Heather`s known DJ Premier since she was 15 years old...


"It`s so funny... I`ve been in this industry & I`ve had a career for 20 years, I have a lot of history. I grew up with a lot of people, DJ Premier I`ve known since I was fifteen years old. I used to work at the club Latin Quarter, so a lot of the Hip Hop artists that are huge today are people that I basically knew all my Life. Or we`ve been in the same club scene, the same night life through all these years. DJ Premier, I met him that way. With Scott Storch, Scott Storch came through. He really came to the table giving me the love & support of seeing me succeed, he`s a very close friend of mine. I consider him family. So, a lot of people that supported this album & put together this album were people that really want to see me succeed in life..."
 

When asked about her album & how long it took to complete here`s what she had to say...

"I`ve been working on my album itself for about a year & a half, 2 years. Mastering the craft of rapping & being good at it. I have been working on that about 6 or 7 years..."

..."The Unexpected" as in the content of my album, I would think that would be kind of expected because I`ve never been shy of my past. I embrace the sexual industry part of me, as well as the mainstream. I've always tried to collaborate them both. "The Unexpected" part of my album is that I can actually rhyme, I`m actually a good rapper. [chuckles] People are shocked by that because when I took on the craft of learning how to rap, it was unexpected to me as well. I guess when you truly have a passion for something, you`re really gonna do your best. I found my niche musically. I used to be with Island Records in `93 when I did House music and then I was signed to Tommy Boy Records. Tommy Boy Records basically didn`t know what kind of music to do with me & I got shelved. So it took me a second to get back into the music business because I wanted to make sure that I truly knew what kind of music I really wanted to do..."

Heather was also a graffiti artist in the early 1980`s until she got busted by the cops....LoL, now she paints on canvases & owns an art gallery where she displays her works...


"My art is my first love. It`s so funny because I used to be a graffiti artist until I got busted, like any graffiti artist might. I was put into a workshop as a child, which was Keith Harings workshop - that inspired me to go & start painting on canvases. I`ve been painting for a while; fifteen or sixteen years of my Life. I`ve painted a lot of private collection stuff through celebrities & close friends, a lot of people that I know..."

"...I have an art gallery that I`ll be opening some art for in NYC. I`ll be exhibiting my paintings as well as new artists, popular artists - anything I can contribute. Culturally art is in my blood. There's nothing I can do about it..."

Anyways the album itself isn`t anything groundbreakin`, but if you were really expecting a 5 mic masterpiece from a rappin` porn` star then I`d have to say that you need to slam your head off ya` computer`s keyboard a few times til some logic kicks in......LoL, Heather`s not a bad emcee, I mean I have definitely heard much worse. The problem is that most folks won`t get passed her past, you know that porn` career. So not too many people will take this as a serious effort. The reality is that Heather just did in real Life most of the things that Lil` Kim could only brag about doin` in her records. I`m kind of surprised that Heather didn`t holla at the Queen Bee for a feature on her album, that could`ve been a killer track! Anyway Ms. Hunter doesn`t really do much to get herself out of that stereotype though since she pretty much keeps it X~rated all the way thru the album. That`s fine if that`s the route she wanted to take because quite frankly she does sound best when spittin` them sexually charged raps anyway. The Mr. 'Put It In Your Mouth' Akinyele assisted "Suk-A..." is proof of that & so is the DJ Premier produced "Freak Like Me" (this joint should`ve been the lead single if ya ask me) as well as "Girl On Girl". "So Serious" which is the album`s only single if I`m not mistaken isn`t a bad track either, Akinyele & Wyclef have lil` cameos in the music video...







The album is rather short clockin` in at just under 45 minutes but that`s not a problem, the down~side is that there is a hell of a lot of useless Interludes; 6 in total not including the Intro that features Mr. Cee. Some of the Interludes make sense because they allow the song that follows them to play off of it. Like the Janet Jacme featured "Bring The Tool Box [Interlude]" for example which lead into "Girl On Girl", but then there are a few that are pretty weak & pointless like that "Spin That [Interlude]" for example. The only track that I found to be completely out of place on this album is "In Love". In my opinion it doesn`t fit because it`s a love song & it just sticks out like a sore thumb amongst all the X~rated raps. It`s not a wack tune, it just doesn`t go with the rest of the album`s content. It`s kind of like the only person rockin` clothes at a nude beach.....LoL, so there ya have it if you are interested give the album a listen. I have also included the music video for "So Serious" with the album since it`s actually a 2~disc joint. One`s the album & the second is a DVD with the music video on it, it`s in mp4 file format so it should work just fine if you`re looking to play it on your i-Pods or i-Phone or whatever else you chose, enjoy...

Heather Hunter - The Unexpected

Label: Blo Records
Released: July 12, 2005

1. Intro {ft. Mister Cee}
2. 4 Seconds {ft. Erinyes & Madison Tayol}
3. Spit That [Interlude]
4. Wassup? {ft. Madison Taylor}
5. Don`t Stop [Prod. by Scott Storch] {ft. EST}
6. Suk-A... {ft. Akinyele}
7. Ms. Hater [Interlude] {ft. Signacha}
8. What About H? {ft. Madison Taylor}
9. Freak Like Me [Prod. by DJ Premier]
10. Bring The Toolbox [Interlude] {ft. Janet Jacme}
11. Girl On Girl [Prod. by Fantom Of The Beat]{ft. Madison Taylor}
12. Rap Bitches [Interlude] {ft. Mr. Cee}
13. So Serious {ft. Madison Taylor}
14. Mr. Hater [Interlude] {ft. S.G.}
15. Hot One {ft. Erinyes}
16. Club Hopper {ft. Madison Taylor}
17. Orgazmic [Interlude]
18. In Love {ft. Chalu}









 
N`JoY...