Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh man, lost but newly found external hard-drives are truly a treasure to discover again.....LoL, long story short I just recently found a few boxes with some external hard-drives that I thought were looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong lost! Unfortunately there are some that don`t seem to be workin` at the moment, but I have found a few that contained some joints worth sharing. So before the rest of these drives die here`s the first joint that I figured was worthy of a share. I`m not sure exactly what the story is behind this album & why the project went 'unreleased' but either way here y`all go for your listening pleasure...
From what I can tell this project was originally set for a 1996 release thru All City Records, but for whatever reasons it wasn`t released commercially. Only promo CDs, cassettes & vinyl exist from what I can see during my online searches. I can`t remember where I actually got this file from, but it`s definitely not my CD rip, unfortunately it is only in 192. I however did boost the volume on everyone of these tracks because they were crazy low!! It`s truly a shame, at least to my ears because there are quite a few joints that folks out there need to hear especially from kats like Steve Def, Kool Kaz & Noggin Nodders! The King Tech remixes of D`Angelo`s "Dreamin` Eyes Of Mine", "Shit, Damn, Motherfucker" & "Brown Sugar" are pretty solid. Chino XL gets his shine on with his three features, but my favorite is "Rappaz Are In Danger". Gotta love how he tears apart his former Art Of Origin rhymin` partner! The "Wake Up Show Anthem" is pretty DoPe for what it is collabo`~wise & definitely deserves it`s spot in the Hip Hop Archives. However what really stands out to me on this comp` is the songs from the lesser~known artists like Steve Def, Kool Kaz, Noggin Nodders & The BUMS. Check it out & enjoy...
When it comes to music I`m a HuGe fan of the unreleased stuff, whether it`s good or bad. Don`t get me wrong, I`d prefer that the music was DoPe every time, but we`ve got to be realistic here. That`s not always the case, however when the music does turn out to be good it`s a nice bonus indeed. For me, getting to hear unreleased music almost gives me the same feeling that an archeologist would get when they`ve discovered some historical artifact, regardless of its actual historical significance. That rush from the initial discovery is what I dig the most! Of course doing the detective work to find out more about the music is kind of interesting as well. With all that said & out of the way let`s get into the music shall we???
What I have to share with y`all today comes courtesy of kingsol81 (he`s the one who originally shared a link over at Bomb1st), so major BiG uPs & much ReSPeCT goes out to you! Props also goes out to BowdenCstyle for creating the cover art for this music, much appreciated. As for NME, I don`t really know much at all about him. The first time that I heard him on record was on the DoPe "Tales From The Hood Soundtrack" on the song "Talkin` To Myself" that also featured Grench The Mean 1 (R.I.P.), that`s actually one of my favorite songs on the soundtrack! NME reps Los Angels, California & is loosely affiliated with the Dogg Pound, Kurupt`s his cousin. At one point Daz & Kurupt were interested in signing NME & his homie Grench The Mean 1 to their sub-label Gotta Get Somewhere Records, but I don`t think that anything really ever came of it. Still, I guess that`s how we can explain NME`s appearances alongside some of Death Row`s artists, mostly the unreleased stuff unfortunately...
Well, actually that`s not all true...thanks to this wonderful thing called the Internet, some of that music is now being shared. From what I can tell these songs were recorded between 1994 & 1996 while NME was either signed to or affiliated with Hoodsta 4 Life Records. I believe this to be more of a fan~made bootleg, sourced mainly from songs off NME`s Sound Cloud Page, but I could be wrong. Either way it`s kind of interesting just to see this music come to light instead of being lost & overlooked in some record label`s "vault". Even more so now because a few of the artists featured on this music are longer with of us; Slip Capone & Grench The Mean 1. One thing that I need to mention is the fact that I found the volume on a lot of these tracks to be on the low~side so I took some liberty & boosted it up a few notches...
The first quarter of the songs on here aren`t as good as the remaining 3 quarters, but that`s just my opinion of course. You definitely need to listen to them on your own! The previously mentioned "Talkin` To Myself" is my favorite joint on here, but there`s still a quite a few gems to check for so don`t sleep!! I`m DiGG`n these joints mainly; "Set Trippin`"(with its Reggae~vibe`D hook & hard thumpin` Battle Cat produced beat), "Flatline" featuring Kurupt & "40`z `N` Bud" featuring Jewell, Kurupt & Grench The Mean 1. Honorable mentions also go to "Oooh Ah Wee Wee" featuring Slip Capone & Grench The Mean 1 & "My Last Wordz (Conquer This Game)" featuring Kurupt & Grench The Mean 1. So there ya have it, give it a listen for ya`self! I think you`ll enjoy at least one or 2 joints on here...
1. The Most Dangerous Man 2. Hoodsta Innaffect {ft. Mortisha, Grench The Mean 1 & Jay Capone} 3. Straight Gettin` Served {ft. Slip Capone} 4. Hoodsta 4 Life {ft. Jay Capone & Mortisha} 5. Mistaken Identity {ft. Slip Capone & Mortisha} 6. Set Trippin` {ft. Mortisha & Chico} 7. Way 2 Much {ft. Grench The Mean 1 & Profit} 8. Oooh Ah Wee Wee {ft. Slip Capone & Grench The Mean 1} 9. Mental Masterpiece {ft. Mortisha & Jay Capone} 10. I`m Talkin` To Myself {ft. Grench The Mean 1} 11. Flatline {ft. Kurupt} 12. 40z `N` Bud {ft. Kurupt, Jewell & Grench The Mean 1} 13. My Last Wordz (Conquer This Game) {ft. Kurupt & Grench The Mean 1} 14. A Toast
Here`s a nice lil` previously unreleased album from around 1995 that Prince Paul released thru his Twitter account. Here`s what Prince Paul had to say about it...
Words from Prince Paul about the album:
"This was a project that I wanted to put together with Amityville MC legend Superstar . as I thought about it more I wanted to recruit more Mcs we knew to make it diverse . Superstar already had the name "Horror City" so wen recorded under that name . This project was recorded right after the first Gravedigga album " 6ft deep"in 1995 . I shopped the demo but unfortunately it got looked over and never got signed . I sat on this project for a while but it always had a dear place in my heart because I thought it was really good and the talent was there . I stripped some of the music from the demo and put it on " a prince among thieves" and actually had a few of the guys perform on the " Thieves " album as well but to be honest I always liked these originals better . So now I have decided share these songs with all of you because holding on to them made no sense .. why not share great music . Hopefully you the listener will enjoy this project as much as I do . please share it , thats why I made this for free download . For more group info please log on to http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000981527022 for a proper bio of "Horror City"...
1. War Party [Intro] 2. Play It Close 3. Pain 4. You Got Flow [Original] 5. Take It How You Want It 6. Big Sha 7. Tattles Tale 8. Horror City Terrorists [Freestyle] 9. MC Hustler [Original] 10. Headbounty 11. War Party Outro
What`s poppin` y`all? Hope all is good, got some more gems for ya today. Now honestly there isn`t much info` out there on Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard, due to the shady music industry he has been pretty much been lost in the shadows. At one point in time he was rollin` with the Flavor Unit, he was also ghost~writing for the likes of Roxanne Shante & Fatal. However things really took off for Pudgee after he was introduced to Red Hot Lover Tone a.k.a. Tone, one half of the production duo Trackmasters or Trak Masterz as they were known back in 1993...
Working with the Trackmasters Pudgee was able to sign a deal with Giant Records to release his debut and only album "Give `Em The Finger". The album itself is pretty good, at least that`s my opinion....LoL, I`ll have to dig it up for y`all a lil` later so you could pass judgment ya`self. However due to label poli~trickS & a lack of promo the album didn`t fair too well sales~wise. So in an attempt to find a greener pasture Pudgee signed with Perspective Records around 1995...
Once again this choice proved to be another bad one on Pudgee`s part. The label was able to release about a handful of singles (one of them being Pudgee`s most recognized track the Original Version of "Think Big" featuring the late~great Notorious B.I.G. & Lord Tariq), but they failed to released his sophomore album "Niguz Fa Life". It`s sad to say but Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard never truly captured success as a soloist, however he does continue to stay active behind the scenes ghost~writing for various artists. It`s been rumored that he wrote roughly 6 songs for Left Eye`s "Supernova" album...
Well that`s about all I know of him, makes ya wonder if his "Niguz Fa Life" album actually exists in some record label`s vault. Speakin` about unreleased joints, let`s get to the gems I have for ya. First there`s the 4 track EP "Dead Silence", it features the track "Angel Dust" a tribute to the late~great 2Pac. I`m guessing that these tracks were put together some time around 1996. Then there`s the "King Of New York [Bootleg]", I`m thinkin` that it`s mainly tracks gathered from the 12 "`s that Perspective Records released. Regardless check `em out & enjoy, you`ll be glad you did.
Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard - Checkin` Out The Avenue [12 Inch]
Released: 1993 Label: Giant Records
1. Checkin` Out The Ave [Ghetto Rmx] 2. Checkin` Out The Ave [Ghetto Rmx Instr.] 3. Checkin` Out The Ave [Ghetto Rmx Acapella]
Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard - Dead Silence EP Label: N/A Released: N/A
1. Angel Dust 2. Stayin` Alive 3. Die For Cause 4. Kill You
Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard - King Of New York [Bootleg] Label: N/A Released: N/A
1. Niguz Fa Life 2. Money Don`t Make The World Stop 3. Everyone Wants To Be Hard {ft. Digable Planets} 4. Make `Em Die 5. History 6. Inner City Blues {ft. DMX} 7. Think Big {ft. Biggie & Lord Tariq} 8. Money Don`t Make The World Stop [Rmx] {ft. Funkmaster Flex, M.O.P., Royal Flush & D-Nice} 9. On The Regular
E-A Ski is a seriously slept on Producer/ Rapper from Oakland, California. He dropped his debut album "1 Step Ahed Of Yall" back in 1992 thru No Limit Records, I`ll post that up a lil` later. On the production side of things, along with his pot`na CMT he`s produced tracks for the likes of Spice-1, TRU, Kam, Luniz, Master P, Ice-T, Mr. Mike, Crime Boss, Ka`Nut, Ice Cube, Jayo Felony, Dual Committee, DenGee, B-Legit, Yukmouth, Thug Lordz, Mistah F.A.B., San Quinn, Messy Marv, Dem Hoodstarz, Bullys Wit` Fullys, Frontline, Too $hort, Locksmith & Turf Talk...
What I have for y`all is the unreleased 1998 album that E-A Ski had submitted while signed to DreamWorks Records. When I first got this the tracks were all .wma files so I just flipped `em into mp3`s for both myself & y`all. As for the album, I really have no idea as to why the label decided not to released it because it`s FUCK`n BaNG`n! I do know that E-A Ski was planning to file a 20-30 million dollar lawsuit (for breach of written & breach of implied contract of good faith & fair dealing, breach of written overhead contract & fraud), after all he had the album done (completed by January of 1998) the label heard it before they signed him but they refused to release it after he was signed. I have no idea if he ever decided to take things to court or not though...
Here`s what E-A Ski said in an interview with Allstar;
"I had just left my situation with Relativity, & Mr. Jheryl Busby was very interested, & he heard my album ("Earthquake") & was blown away. We get into this lucrative deal with I.M.G. (Infrared Music Group), the label I operate, to come to DreamWorks, & I had other offers on the table, but he was real interested. And then they`re talking about not putting the record out. I`m like 'What? How do you hear this, then all of a sudden you`re not putting it out?' He said it wasn`t commercially satisfying. If it wasn`t, then why did they sign the album? I`m hearing all kinds of things from the attorneys, that Jheryl was getting flack for signing the kind of deal he deal with me. They offered me a lot of money & the points were great. 18 points, & basically he`s getting flack for that"...
1. Showdown {ft. Montell Jordan} 2. Earthquake {ft. Ice Cube} 3. Faces Of Death 4. 25 With A Mill Ticket 5. 4 Centimeters 6. Anticipation 7. Bag Of Chips {ft. Boss Hogg} 8. Player Haters {ft. Ice-T} 9. Welcome To California 10. I`mma Get U High {ft. 3re Tha Hardaway} 11. Dr. Dre & Mr. Ski {ft. Dr. Dre} 12. Blast If I Have To 13. Maddoggin` {ft. Jayo Felony} 14. Now What {ft. Spice-1} 15. I.M.G. 16. Showdown [Instrumental] 17. Untitled [Instrumental]
Being the BiG fan that I am of unreleased/ rare ish ya know I just had to post this up! So first off BiG uP Row Rider over at Death Row Tapes, homie had this up long before me. Anyhow I decided to post this up because well it`s a chance to hear PRe~Chronic & PRe~Doggystyle Snoop & that itself is a rarity, so it can`t really hurt to add another link to this whole BLoG WoRLD that`s out there....LoL, anyway let`s get back to the music & the story behind it all...
Apparently Snoop was dealin` with Cold 187 of Above The Law fame before he met up with Dr. Dre, but things were just taking too long for Snoop. He grew tired of waiting so his homie Warren G took 213 (the group that consisted of Snoop, Warren G & Nate Dogg) to Dr. Dre for a listen. Dre was impressed mostly by the track "Sooper Dooper Snooper", I haven`t heard it myself but I`m guessin` that it featured Snoop Dogg on the solo tip. Either way Dre really liked what he heard in Snoop & began to work with him immediately...
Shortly after Snoop`s new connection, this was around 1991-92, Cold 187 called up Snoop to let him know that he was working on the "Black Mafia Life" album for his group Above The Law. They had a couple of tracks ready for him to lay his vocals on, but it was too late -- Snoop turned him down. One of the songs was "Never Missin` A Beat", the other track was "Pimpology 101". Both tracks just ended up being instrumental interludes on the "Black Mafia Life" album. Makes ya wonder though just how different things would`ve been if Snoop had been a part of that "Black Mafia Life" album. He might have even ended up workin` alongside Eazy-E...
Anyways Snoop was now workin` with Dr. Dre & let`s just say that the Doctor was extremely impressed with Snoop`s funky, calm, laid~back, charismatic style & flow. So they put in that work & quickly put together an album, even though they had no way of getting the album some distribution. This is when Suge Knight makes his way into the picture. It was in late 1991 when Dr. Dre hooked up with Suge Knight & the 2 of them managed to link up a weak deal directly with Time Warner for the distribution of Snoop`s album. The only setback was that Dr. Dre was rushing everything before ish was all legit & legal, you see Death Row wasn`t actually official yet. I guess it was more of an organization because the legal paperwork hadn`t been filed...
The album Dre & Snoop had worked on featured some songs that had many appearances of the early Death Row artists like C.P.O., Chocolate, RBX & others. The producers ranged from DJ Glaze, Warren G, Chocolate & even Dr. Dre himself. Now all the songs featured on the album weren`t recorded at Death Row; a few came from the time he spent waiting with Cold 187, a few were songs that Snoop recorded with DJ Glaze & Foesum in early 1991. Snoop Dogg really liked the songs & wanted to include the them on the album, he also had hoped that he`d be able to bring the group Foesum (a.k.a. Perfection) along to Death Row because they had be searchin` for a solid record deal...
Foesum never did make the cut for Death Row, some say it had to do with the contracts they had with a previous label, other say the group was a lil` unorganized when it came to the business side of things. Either way they were never really given a chance by Dr. Dre other than having the track included on the album. As for the album, it ended up getting shelved because Time Warner wasn`t able to legally distribute the album. Only a few promo tapes were pressed up & given to L.A. radio stations, even though they weren`t actually given the authorization to play `em. The stations BuMP`d `em anyway, playin` the track "Do You Remember?" the most before they were forced to stop playing it over the airwaves...
Just imagine how much one of them promo tapes would go for now! Unfortunately we don`t get to hear the entire tape just a few tracks. First off we get “187 (It’s On)"; clearly the original inspiration for "Deep Cover", it also features the Lady Of Rage...shows ya just how deep her roots were with Tha Row. “County Blues”; though not included on the actual tracklist cover art (it`s a bonus track on the promo tape) is apparently a track that was recorded while Snoop was workin` with Cold 187, way before Death Row Records. “Do You Remember?”; is the track that caught most radio stations` attention....maybe because it was the cleaner radio version....LoL, “Let ’Em Understand Perfection”, Foesum also known as Perfection was a Long Beach group that Snoop had collaborated with way before he recorded anything for the "Chronic" album or Death Row Records...
The group was made up of members T-Dubb, DJ Glaze, Tender D (a.k.a. Waniac), MNMsta, Mellow D (a.k.a. Tripp Loc) & Travvy Trav (who passed away shortly after the group was formed). This song is that collabo`, it was also a DiSS directed towards another Long Beach rapper -- Domino. The reason behind the DiSS`n? Domino was a part of Foesum, but left while the group was still in it`s infant stages.....I guess they didn`t like the fact that he bailed on `em, but in all honesty it was a better move on his part. Y`all remember "Getto Jam"? "Sweet Potatoe Pie"? Tracks from Domino`s 1993 self titled debut album. I`m sure some of y`all do, more so than the ones that know of Foesum...LoL
Anyways, Snoop makes a reference to this song in his lyrics for the track “Nuthin’ But A G Thang” --- ”Perfection is perfected, so I’ma let ’em understand..”“The Message”; this joint was probably titled as such because it`s basically Snoop rhyming over the instrumental to Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five`s "The Message". This was recorded with DJ Glaze before the Death Row days. “True To The Game”; is another joint Snoop recorded with DJ Glaze around 1990. You can tell it`s one of the tracks from his earlier recording sessions because his verses are a bit on the long side, D.O.C. hadn`t taught him how to condense things yet...
So there y`all have it, the story behind this album. It`s just too bad we don`t have the entire thing to listen to! Oh well, if you`re interested in hearing some of that rare ish go `head & check out what is available. Another thing, the sound quality`s not the best, I`m guessing it`s because it came from a cassette rip. It is what it is, take it or leave it...
1. 187 (It`s On) {ft. Lady Of Rage} 2. County Blues 3. Do You Remember? 4. Let `Em Understand 5. The Message 6. True To The Game
Here`s what I found info~wise regarding the album`s features & producers...
1. Over The Counter [Prod. by Dr. Dre & Warren G] 2. Dogg’s Life {ft. Nate Dogg} [Prod. by Dr. Dre] 3. Jack ’Em {ft. Convicts} [Prod. by Chocolate] 4. 213 Dope Slang {ft. Warren G & Nate Dogg} [Prod. by Warren G] 5. Knokin’ Off Everything {ft. 3-2 & D.O.C.} [Prod. by Chocolate] 6. Blast For Cash {ft. Dr. Dre} [Prod. by Dr. Dre] 7. Let ’Em Understand Perfection {ft. Foesum} [Prod. by DJ Glaze] 8. The Message [Prod. by DJ Glaze] 9. 211 {ft. RBX} [Prod. by Dr. Dre] 10. Signed & Detected {ft. Dogg Pound} [Prod. by Dr. Dre & Warren G] 11. Bank Roll [Prod. by ????] 12. 187 {ft. Lady Of Rage} [Prod. by Dr. Dre] 13. C.O.C. Kingpin {ft. Kurupt} [Prod. by Warren G] 14. Welcome To Death Row {ft. Dr. Dre, RBX, Dogg Pound, Bushwick Bill, Convicts, Chocolate, & C.P.O.} [Prod. by Dr. Dre & Warren G] 15. Do You Remember? {ft. George Clinton} [Prod. by ????] 16. True To The Game [Prod. by DJ Glaze] *Bonus Track – County Blues [Prod. by Aladdin]
For those of you that have been under a rock & have no idea who Left Eye is I`ll give ya a lil` run down. Lisa Lopes a.k.a. Left Eye was a part of TLC, along side T-Boz & Chilli. The group first appeared on the scene back in 1992 with their debut album "Ooooooohhh...On The TLC Tip". The album did really well, selling something like 6 million. It`s safe to say that the group soon became a household name. A year later the trio dropped "CrazySexyCool" & that album did extremely well selling over 15 million worldwide. In 1999 the group dropped their third album "FanMail", the title was a tribute to TLC`s devoted fans. The fans showed their appreciation by helping the group sell over 10 million copies...
While TLC was recording "FanMail" things between the group`s members began to fall apart. Public conflicts between the 3 of them took place in various magazines. Left Eye had sent a message to Vibe Magazine stating the following;
"I`ve graduated from this era. I cannot stand 100 percent behind this TLC project & the music that is supposed to represent me..."
T-Boz & Chilli responded to Left Eye`s comments thru Entertainment Weekly, stating that Left Eye "doesn`t respect the whole group" & "Left Eye is only concerned with Left Eye..."
So Left Eye sent a letter to Entertainment Weekly challenging both T-Boz & Chilli to release solo albums & have the public/ their fans decide who the greatest member of TLC really is. Here`s what she had to say;
"I challenge Tionne 'Player' Watkins (T-Boz) & Rozonda 'Hater' Thomas (Chilli) to an album entitled "The Challenge"...a 3 CD set that contains three solo albums. Each [album]...will be due to the record label by October 1, 2000...I also challenge Dallas 'The Manipulator' Austin to produce all of the material & do it at a fraction of his normal rate. As I think about it, I`m sure LaFace would not mind throwing in a $1.5 million dollar prize for the winner..."
I`ve got to admit that Left Eye had a great idea, it`s too bad that T-Boz & Chilli were too shook to set up & take "The Challenge". Needless to say after "FanMail" Left Eye started to work on her solo career...
Left Eye started appearing on various songs/ singles, from former Spice Girls Melanie C`s "Never Be The Same Again", Donell Jones` "U Know What`s Up", NSYNC`s "Space Cowboy" & Toni Braxton`s "Gimme Some". She even appeared in 2 GAP commercials, the first one she was featured solo, but the second commercial she was sharing the screen with Sheryl Crow, India Arie & Liz Phair...
Always lookin` to expand her reach Lisa created "Left Eye Productions", this way she could help discover fresh raw talent. The moved paid off because she was able to help Blaque, an R&B trio she discovered, secure a deal thru Columbia Records. Left Eye was the executive producer of their self~titled album. She also made a cameo appearance on the album & also in their music video for "I Do" (you can peep the video here since embedding was disabled). Left Eye was also working on developing another new band called Egypt. They helped her work on her second solo album under her new alias, N.I.N.A. (New Identity Not Applicable). This was around the same time that Left Eye was in talks with Suge Knight wanting to join the label`s roster so she could release that N.I.N.A. album...
She was working on bother her second solo album & the 4th TLC record "3D" when tragedy struck. While she was in La Ceiba, Honduras on April 25, 2002 she was killed in a fatal car accident. Out of the 8 people that were riding with her in the Mitsubishi Montero Sport that she was driving, she was the only fatality. Apparently Left Eye tried to swerve around a truck, but when she did that there was another vehicle heading directly at them on the other side of the road. So in an effort to avoid a head~on collision Left Eye swerved off the road. In the process the vehicle rolled over several times after hitting two trees, throwing Left Eye & three other passengers out the windows. Left Eye died from the severe head injuries that she received in the accident...
She`s definitely missed by many! What I`ve got for y`all is a bootleg, mostly of tracks that Left Eye had been workin` on while she was on Death Row Records. Check it out & enjoy...
1. Block Party [Rmx] {ft. Eastwood & Phobia} 2. Life {ft. Eastwood & Danny Boy} 3. Let Me Live {ft. Crooked I} 4. Universal Quest {ft. Crooked I} 5. Rags 2 Riches {ft. Kurupt} 6. Untouchable {ft. 2Pac} 7. I Believe In Me 8. Hot Lanta {ft. Kurupt & Juvenile} 9. True Confessions 10. Too Street For TV {ft. Danny Boy} 11. Friends {ft. Kurupt & Danny Boy}
Oh you didn`t know Mr. Hammertime was down with Tha Row? I didn`t know either until I read about it in some HiP HoP magazine, I think it was Vibe back in the day. Anyway the album was recorded sometime around 1996 or just a lil` prior to that. Hammer had first met Suge Knight around 1988 & the two had remained friends since, he was also a close friend of 2Pac`s. I`m not too sure why the album was shelved, but Hammer explains things best...
“It was the year [1996] that `Pac actually lost his life – a year of turmoil. Music became insignificant at the time. You know Death Row transitioned, Suge had got arrested at that time. So we didn’t have a chance to get the music out..."
“I just remember how excited `Pac was working on the album with me. We had already done three or four things together for the album. The title track “Too Tight,” `Pac had laid down the concept, I came up with the track. `Pac had already laid down the hook & started writing verses because he wanted it to be a certain way from his perspective...”
The album itself has some nice features like Big Daddy Kane, 2Pac, Kurupt, Spice-1, Danny Boy, Storm, Mac Mall & Numskull to name a few. So if you`re a fan of that unreleased Death Row ish I suggest that you DL this joint to add to ya` collection...
1. Intro 2. I Got U Bouncin` 3. Too Late Playa {ft. 2Pac, Big Daddy Kane, Nuttso & Danny Boy} 4. The Beat {ft. Spice 1, K9 & Mad Dogg} 5. Down In My Hood {ft. Danny Boy & Lil` Big} 6. Props On The Spot 7. Get Up 8. Player Hater Of The Week 9. Town By The Bay {ft. Danny Boy & Lil` Big} 10. Can U Feel It? Pt. 1 {ft. Storm, Nutt-So, Kurupt, Mac Mall & Numskull} 11. Hammer Time Brings It 12. Everybody Party Down 13. Free Intro 14. I Wish U Were Free 15. Tuesday Night 16. Unconditional Love
You probably know of Top Dogg as the Snoop Dogg sound a~like from Compton, California that Suge Knight had signed to Death Row Records around the time that Snoop had left for Master P`s No Limit Records, 1997-1998 I think it was. Many headZ say it was more of a retaliation move than a business move for Suge & I`d have to agree. I mean c`mon it was just too much of a coincidence that homie sounded like Snoop! Not only that, Top Dogg`s first appearance (I could be wrong) was on the "Gang Related Soundtrack" as a hidden track titled "Going Back To Cali" a bold Biggie, Puff Daddy & Bad Boy Records DiSS...
By bold I mean when I first heard the track I thought it was actually Snoop...LoL, I remember hearin` it on the radio....ah good ol` College Radio, "The Jeep Beats Show"I believe it was I could be wrong, either way I was sayin` to myself,"DaMn now Snoop`s DiSS`n `em!" Then thru the miracles of a Ghetto Blaster & a blank Memorex cassette tape that had been recording the show, I hit rewind listened to it again & figured the whole ish out....LoL
I think that was all part of Suge`s plan anyhow & to his credit I`m sure it did help garner some attention. That`s probably why to continue the buzz that Top Dogg gained from that "Goin` Back To Cali" track, he gave Top Dogg an appearance on the "2Pac Greatest Hits" double CD album, on the song "All About U" -- Top Dogg replaced Snoop on the track...
Top Dogg`s next appearance would be on the 2001 released Death Row compilation album "Chronic 2000" on the J-Flexx produced track "Top Dogg Cindafella". A side~note, Snoop released a track titled "Snoopafella" which appears on his "No Limit Top Dogg" album & it features lyrics that are real similar to that that are featured on "Top Dogg Cindafella" so I can only guess that Snoop actually wrote the lyrics but Suge had Top Dogg add his twist to it for his version. Check it out for ya`self...
Top Dogg also had the DJ Quik produced track "We Don`t Love `Em" featured on that "Chronic 2001" album as well. In my opinion it`s a much better track than "Top Dogg Cindafella", I don`t see why they wouldn`t have put together a music video for this joint. Then again I guess the video for "Top Dogg Cindafella" was just another Suge shot at Snoop. Not only did Suge go for a lil` revenge with "Chronic 2000", he also tried his shot at comedy. Just look at Top Dogg`s third appearance on the compilation, Tha Realest`s track "They Wanna Be Like Us" which also features Doobie. How could it not seem just a lil` funny when you have a 2Pac & a Snoop sound a~like featured on the same track titled "They Wanna Be Like Us"???
After a while I figure Suge Knight grew tired of the whole Top Dogg thing because once Top Dogg`s contract with Tha Row expired he was released, but his album "Every Dog Has His Day" was shelved though promo copies were released. SO if you`re down for a few laughs go `head & check it out...
1. Intro/ Goin` Back To Cali [Extended Version] [Prod. by O.F.T.B. & Brian G] 2. Ghetto Fairytales [Prod. by Kurt "Kobane" Couthon] 3. Can`t Fuck With Dogg [Prod. by PRO] 4. Just Be Thankful {ft. The Koss Band} [Prod. PRO & Darrell Crooks] 5. Trippin` [Prod. by PRO] 6. Me & My Boys [Prod. by O.F.T.B., 2 Tuff, Carl "Butch" Small] 7. Top Dogg Cindafella [Prod. by J-Flexx] 8. She Used To Know Me {ft. PB} [Prod. by Assasin] 9. We Don`t Love `Em [Street Mix] [Prod. by DJ Quik] 10. If U Can`t Stand The Heat {ft. Eastwood} [Prod. by Magic & EZ] 11. They Wanna Be Like Us [Street Mix] {ft. Tha Realest & Doobie} [Prod. by Kurt "Kobane" Couthon]
If ya don`t know who MC Ren is ya need to SLaP ya`self & hit ya` web~browser`s "back" button `cuz you shouldn`t be here.....LoL, seriously! Now for all ya true HiP HoPPaZ what I`ve got for y`all is apparently an advance copy of "Renincarnated"...at least that`s what the file name read, but it`s more than likely leaked promo for some work that MC Ren has done with his Rebel Army group. It`s just a guess though, after all John Doe & Bigg Rocc are featured on just about every track on the album. So I can`t really see this being a TRUE MC Ren album. None~the~less the music is DoPe, so check it out & enjoy...
1. Monster 2. Bringin` It {ft. Bigg Rocc} 3. Radio {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 4. It`s Nothing {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 5. In Da Ghetto {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 6. Don`t Do It {ft. Bigg Rocc} 7. America {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 8. Bang Wit` Me {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 9. Deadly {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 10. No Get Bacc {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 11. Old Times {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 12. On My Dicc {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc} 13. John Doe {ft. John Doe & Bigg Rocc}
The A.T.B.A.N. Klann, a.k.a. A Tribe Beyond A Nation....a HiP HoP group consisting of Mookie Mook, DJ Motiv8, Will 1X, Dante Santiago & Apl.de.ap. Will 1X & Apl.de.ap used to break together as a crew (Tribal Nation), later on they linked up with Mookie Mook, Dante Santiago & DJ Motiv8 to form the group the A.T.B.A.N. Klann. Eazy-E seen the potential that they embodied & scooped these katZ up around 1992, signing them to Ruthless Records. Shortly after being signed they made their debut on Eazy-E`s "5150: Home 4 Tha Sick" EP on the track "Merry Mutha Phuckin` X-Mas".
Soon after that they began to work on their debut album "Grass Roots" which was set up for an October release in 1992. They had an equal balance of trackS created with computer programing & some jointS recorded using a live band. The album was completed, but due to label politrickS & then Eazy-E`s death the album never seen the light of day, it was shelved for whatever reason. They did release a 12" for "Puddles Of H2O" around `94 but it was a 'Promo Only' release.
After leaving Ruthless Records Will 1X & Apl.de.ap hooked up with Taboo & they became the Black Eyed Peas. Shortly after signing to Interscope Will 1X changed his name to Will.I.Am. So there y`all go, a lil` pre~Black Eyed Peas history for ya....LoL, enjoy the album...
1. Open Your Mind 2. Goin` For A Ride 3. Lord Of The Flies 4. Adidas 5. Mountain Top 6. Quid Pro Quo 7. No Sequel 8. World`s Gone 9. Rain On Me 10. Dedicated 11. Styles Are Critical 12. Puddles Of H2O 13. Focus On You 14. Strolling 15. La Borio Woman Beater 16. Let Me Get Down
Yolanda Whittaker...or as the HiP HoP world knows her, Yo-Yo definitely deserves some props for her role in the Women`s HiP HoP movement, but she tends to be forgotten. I`m not really sure why, regardless though she`s gon` get some well deserved BiG uPs on this BLoG! Most of y`all should know about Miss Yo-Yo. However if you don`t, no worries I`ll give you a lil` run~down...you`re just gon` have to do me a favor first, pick up your keyboard & slam it over your head at least 3 or 4 times until a few keys fall off. That way you`ve knocked yourself senseless, a good enough reason for not knowin` who Yo-Yo is.....LoL, JoKeS! Anyway, I`ll give you that run~down now...
Yo-Yo made her first recorded appearance on the song "It`s A Man`s World" from Ice Cube`s 1990 album "AmeriKKKa`s Most Wanted". Continuing to work with Cube she dropped her critically acclaimed debut album in 1991 titled "Make Way For The Motherlode" containing the hit single "You Can`t Play With My Yo-Yo" featuring Ice Cube. Then she followed things up with 1992`s "Black Pearl", an album that the critics seemed to enjoy but the sales were disappointing. I guess fans just didn`t like the uplifting themes & positive messages that went against the norm` at the time, that being Gangsta Rap...
Yo-Yo did somewhat of a 360 with her 1993 album "You Better Ask Somebody", comin` with the gun~talk & blunt sparks. She was definitely more on the combative side of things with this LP, clearly demanding ReSPeCT -- making sure that she didn`t come off preachy with all the positivity like many felt she did on the previous album. It`s almost like she was trying to redeem herself, even goin` as far as DiSS`n herself on the song titled "They Shit Don`t Stink" spittin`; "I fell off, but now I`m back `cuz that "Black Pearl" shit was wack..." I read an interview with Yo-Yo from Rapstation.com where she was asked about "Black Pearl" & DiSS`n it, here`s a lil` of what she had to say about it;
"It was a shock & people wasn`t ready for it. When I dissed it, I didn`t really DISS IT. I mean, I did, but I DIDN`T, you know what I mean? It just wasn`t what I wanted at that time. But hey, it was a break through...I was battlin` my identity anyway. West Coast was so gangsta...I had never been a tom boy. (laughs) I was fightin` trying to show my feminine side & tryin` to work with Cube & the N.W.A. image, just being a female in it though..." (you can read the rest of it here...)
Anyway, "You Better Ask Somebody" also contains Yo-Yo`s 3rd collabo` with Ice Cube "The Bonnie & Clyde Theme". This joint was actually a B~Side on the album`s 1st single, "IBWin` Wit` My Crewin", funny thing though it`s really the only song off the album that received substantial radio airplay. "Total Control" was her next album, released in 1996 with features from Ice Cube, MC Breed, MC Lyte, Ruff Dogg & production from Yo-Yo herself, Warren G & DJ Battlecat. The album flopped, but it did contain "Bonnie & Clyde II" her 4th collabo` with Ice Cube. In 1998 Yo-Yo finished recording "Ebony" her 5th & final album (at least for now), but due to label PoLiTRiCKS it was never released. Promo copies of the LP & 12 Inches of "Do You Wanna Ride?" were put into circulation, but a retail album never seen the light...
Aside from rappin` Yo-Yo has also done a lil` actin`, appearing in a few movies like 1991`s "Boyz N The Hood" & 1993`s "Menace II Society". She also held down a few TV show roles as well; appearing on "Martin" as Sheneneh`s homegirl Keylolo & on "New York Undercover" as Nikki to name a few. If you`ve played "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" then you`ve also heard her voice as Kendl Johnson (CJ & Sweet's sister). Anyway back to Yo-Yo`s "Ebony" album, apparently it was set for a release on September 29th, 1998. However due to the fact that someone at the label seriously fucked up some paperwork along the way, the guest appearances were not cleared for the album so the entire album was shelved. A music video for "Iz It All Still Good?" was released as well as Promo copies of the album, both CD`s & cassette tapes were pressed up before it ended up getting shelved. They now go for a decent penny now; $450-500 the last time I checked. Of course that price would drop significantly if the label ever decided to release it publicly, but sadly that`s not the case...
So for the time being a rip of the promo CD, I believe is all we have to hear it. The sound quality is decent, but I`m going to have to say that the mastering is slightly off. Since this is a promo release the production credits as well as the
featured artist credits are a little harder to come by. So you actually
need to hear the music to get a better understanding of the features
& production credits. I`m almost certain that Rashad Smith produced
most of if not all of the album. You can hear his 'Tumblin` Dice'
trademark at the beginning of a few tracks, but then there`s also a few
tracks without that you can hear him tryin` to pull off his best Puff
Daddy impression.
1. Intro 2. Countin` Money 3. Do You Wanna Ride? {ft. Kelly Price} 4. Iz It All Still Good? {ft. Gerald Levert} 5. Get Up (And Do Your Thing) 6. Never Gonna Fall Again 7. Fantasy 8. Let Me Be The One 9. Good Girl 10. I Would If I Could {ft. Missy Elliott} 11. Pass It On {ft. Big Chan, Nic-Nak, Shorty G & Lady T}
