Wednesday, April 24, 2013

2PaC`s "DeaR MaMa" [CD SiNGLe]...




What`s happenin` y`all? Hope all is well! Today I`m dustin` off a CD Single from the late great 2Pac for y`all. This one was released in 1995 thru Interscope Records & it features 6 tracks in total; 4 songs & 2 instrumentals. Most of the joints on here are from his 1995 album "Me Against The World", but there`s also the hardly heard Moe Z. Mix of "Dear Mama" as well as a joint off the Thug Life album titled "Bury Me A G". I`m not really a big fan of the Moe Z. Mix, it`s not a bad track I just feel that the original beat helped capture the emotion behind `Pac's lyrics a lot better than the one Moe Z. provided. Two of my favorite 2Pac songs are on this single, those being the heart~felt "Dear Mama" & the Hip Hop ode "Old School". It`s definitely awesome to hear `Pac spitting about his love for both his mother & also Hip Hop, the later was a topic that he didn`t really speak on very much in his short career so it`s most definitely a treat to hear him BiGG`n up Hip Hop`s place of birth New York. Go on & check out these tunes, they`re definitely worth the time spent so enjoy...












Label: Interscope Records
Released: 1995



1. Dear Mama [LP Version]
2. Dear Mama [Instr.]
3. Bury Me A G {Thug Life ft. Natasha Walker of Y.N.V.}
4. Dear Mama [Moe Z. Mix]
5. Dear Mama [Moe Z. Mix Instr.]
6. Old School [LP Version]









 








R.i.P. 2PaC...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

iNFaMouS SyNDiCaTe`s "CHaNGiNG The GaMe"...

Re~uPP`d, originally posted 08.09.2009...







Got a lil` Chi~Town flava for y`all this time around, comin` in the form of some music from Chicago`s Infamous Syndicate. Now for those that don`t know about the Infamous Syndicate I shall drop a lil` knowledge on ya. They were a duo of female emcees reppin` Chicago as previously mentioned. The duo consisted of Rashawnna Guy, better known to the Hip Hop world as Shawnna (daughter of Blues impresario Buddy Guy) an emcee who built her skillz in Chicago`s underground clubs & Lateefa a.k.a. `Teefa a street poet who began her rappin` career by flowin` over beats that her cousin had been hookin` her up with...




It only made sense that the 2 having similar Hip Hop interests link`D up together. In fact it just happened to be at `Teefa's 17th birthday party in 1997, shortly after they met they formed Infamous Syndicate. They received a lot of home town support, especially after Pinkhouse, a local radio legend heard their demo. He really dug what he heard so he broke their record on the radio, playing the track "8 times a night for about a month". The local love generated a lil` buzz, Relativity Records took notice scooped them up & signed them to the label. They toured as part of the famed Lyricist Lounge in 1998 & dropped their one & only album in 1999 titled "Changing The Game"... 




The album features some of Kanye West`s early production, way before he became the kat that he is now~a~days. iLL beat~banger No I.D. also puts in some work as well as some other kats that I`m not too familiar with; Mr. Khaliyl, Michael Antonio Guy, Echo & Andy C. Even though the album had a hit single with the No I.D. produced "Here I Go" Relativity Records dropped the Infamous Syndicate in 2000. After they were dropped Shawnna decided to go solo & ended up linkin` with Ludacris & Disturbin` Tha Peace, but now I believe that she`s no longer down with Luda` however she`s still grindin` on the indy tip. As for `Teefa, she works Radio & has also gone on the solo tip. So there ya have it folks, now go on & peep this music would ya...








Label: Relativity
Released: 1999




1. Intro 
2. Here I Go [Prod. by No I.D.] 
3. Bouncer [Skit] 
4. Hold It Down [Prod. by No I.D.] 
5. I Gave You Me {ft. Kia Jeffries} [Prod. by Mr. Khaliyl] 
6. What You Do To Me {ft. Kanye West} [Prod. by Kanye West] 
7. What That Boy Like? {ft. Big Nasty} [Prod. by No I.D.] 
8. Clock Strikes 12 {ft. Fatal} [Prod. by Kanye West] 
9. West Side {ft. Cap.One} [Prod. by Michael Antonio Guy] 
10. It`s Alright [Prod. by No I.D.] 
11. You Are Falling Off [Skit] 
12. It`s On You [Prod. by Echo] 
13. City Of Hustlas [Prod. by Kanye West] 
14. Jenny Jonez [Prod. by Andy C]














N`JoY...

Thursday, April 11, 2013

MiCHie Mee & L.A. LuV`s "JaMaiCaN FuNK CaNaDiaN STyLe"...

Re-uPP`d, originally posted on 04.18.2007...



Today I`m gon` share with y`all the debut album from Michie Mee (Canada`s 1st Lady of Hip Hop) titled "Jamaican Funk Canadian Style". The album was released in 1991 on the label First Priority Music. Now for those that aren`t too familiar with Michie Mee, I will do my best to share with y`all what I know of her & it sparks off a lil` something like this. Michelle McCullock a.k.a. Michie Mee to the Hip Hop World was born in Jamaica, but relocated to Toronto, Ontario Canada at a young age where she grew up in the infamous Jane & Finch neighborhood. Michie was influenced by Hip Hop at an early age, performing professionally by the age of 14. By around 1985 she hooked up with a local DJ who went by the name of L.A. Luv & the 2 formed a duo simply called Michie Mee & L.A. Luv...






While payin` dues & perfectin` skills the duo ended up having 2 of their tracks featured on the 1987 all~Canadian HiP HoP compilation titled "Break`n Out". The compilation itself was produced by the late Scott La Rock (R.I.P.) & KRS-One of Boogie Down Productions. The featured tracks were titled "Elements Of Style" & "Run For Cover". The duo`s first single "Elements Of Style" really got them some shine. Folks definitely started to take notice of Michie`s presence on the mic, especially the folks down in the US. It wasn`t long after the release of the single, a year later actually, in 1988 all her hard work finally paid off because she became the 1st Canadian rapper to sign a major deal with an American record label. First Priority/ Atlantic was her new home, L.A. Luv`s as well. In that same year the Canadian duo was featured on the compilation album titled "The First Priority Music Family: Basement Flavor" on the tracks "On This Mic" which also featured MC Lyte & "Victory Is Calling"...






Three years later the duo released their debut album titled "Jamaican Funk - Canadian Style" in 1991. With the help of the single "Jamaican Funk" the album itself sold roughly 60, 000 units in the US. The album was also nominated for a Juno Award in Canada in 1992. A few years after the album`s release Michie Mee ended up in some legal drama, so eventually the duo broke up. L.A. Luv jumped ship & started to work with another Canadian Hip Hop group called the Dream Warriors, switching up his name to DJ Luv. He joined the Dream Warriors just before they dropped their second album titled "Subliminal Simulation" in 1994...








 
After starting her solo career in 1995 she also became a vocalist for the Alternative Rock/ Reggae band Raggadeath, they had the charting single "One Life" & music video for "Dance With The Devil". In 2000 she released the comeback album titled "The First Cut Is The Deepest" which is pretty rare & expensive to own. She also branched out into acting & was featured in the CBC Television series "Drop The Beat" & films titled "My Baby`s Daddy" & "In Too Deep" to name a some of the projects that she`s been featured in. Now as for her debut album? It makes for a decent listen with it`s Canadian influenced Dancehall/Reggae vibes. Standout joints for me are the title track "Jamaican Funk Canadian Style", "We`ve Arrived In America", "You`re Feisty", "A Portion From Up North", "Canada Large" & the bonus track "Jamaican Funk". So there ya have it y`all, my opinion`s all over this review but that`s just exactly how it`s supposed to be. So go on & check out the music & please excuse the misspelled file name.....LoL, everything else is tagged correctly & yes it`s in 320 so enjoy...









Label: First Priority Music
Released: 1991




1. Prelude #1
2. Jamaican Funk Canadian Style
3. Kotch {ft. Pinchers}
4. Insecure Luva
5. Prelude #2
6. If Only They Knew
7. Prelude #3
8. All Night Stand {ft. Shabba Ranks}
9. We`ve Arrived In America
10. L.A. Luv De Bout
11. You`re Feisty
12. A Portion From Up North
13. Canada Large
14. Get It Together [Bonus Track]
15. Jamaican Funk [Bonus Track]




















This joint was featured on Rap Essentials...



Joint she dropped in `99...









 Here`s  some 2013 ish that Michie Mee has dropped...






N`JoY...

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

CRiMiNaL NaTioN`s "ReLeaSe The PReSSuRe"...

What`s happenin` y`all? Hopefully the World`s treatin` ya right! Today what I have to share with ya is an album from the year 1990 by Criminal Nation titled "Release The Pressure". Found this at a thrift shop for a whole 75 cents so I figured why not grab it, never heard it what could the harm be? Now just who Criminal Nation is? I`m not 100% sure, but from what I gathered after listening to the album I think the group`s members consisted of; MC Deff, Spade, D-Rob, Bumpy, Clee-Bone, Eugenius & D-Wiz & they`re reppin` Seattle/Washington. Signed to Nastymix Records, a label affiliated with Sir Mix-A-Lot that was started in the mid 1980`s. Anyway this is Criminal Nation`s debut, there was a follow up album released in 1992 titled "Trouble In The Hood". Their debut has more of a Black Power/ MC vibe to it, "Criminal Hit" is by far the hardest track on their. MC Deff just sounds better when he`s cussin` & bustin` them G`d up rhymes.....LoL, this album is alright in my opinion, I mean for 75 cents I won`t complain. Go `head & give it a listen, if you can school me on Criminal Nation feel free to do so....











Criminal Nation - Release The Pressure
Label: Nastymix Records
Released: 1990



1. Positively Funky
2. Black Power Nation
3. The Right Crowd
4. Insane
5. I`m Rollin`
6. My Laboratory
7. Violent Sound
8. Release The Pressure
9. Definitely Down For Trouble
10. Criminal Hit
11. Mission Of Murder
12. Take No Prisoners
 
 
 



Tuesday, April 02, 2013

LaDy Of RaGe`s "AFRo PuFFs" [PRoMo CD SiNGLe]...

Today I have some good ol` tunes from The Lady Of Rage to share with y`all from 1994 when she was signed to the powerhouse label Death Row Records. "Afro Puffs" was the first song that I had heard from Rage back in the day on a college radio Hip Hop show. I had no clue on who she was, but I knew one thing....home~girl had lyrics & she could definitely rip the mic. A few weeks after hearing the song for the first time I caught the music video on Much Music`s Rap City, so I was finally able to put a face to her voice & she did rock some 'Afro Puffs'....LoL, she didn`t provide much in the eye candy department like say Foxy Brown or Lil` Kim, who were gettin` their props around the same time frame for being more sexual than being actual emcees. However she did bring ear candy to the table, with her rough & rugged rhymes over some very DoPe production by Dr. Dre (my opinion of course) while Snoop Dogg did his thing on the hook...




The track itself ended up being featured on the soundtrack for "Above The Rim", a film that also starred fellow Death Row Records artist 2Pac. It generated a nice healthy buzz for Rage, but for whatever reason Tha Row decided to sleep on her instead of capitalizing off that buzz. The label did eventually release her debut album titled "Necessary Roughness" in 1997, but by then only her die~hard fans were really checkin` for her so it didn`t sell all that many units. Another weird thing is that they didn`t even include "Afro Puffs" at all on her album, a move that I think was kind of retarded but hey the label was pretty much falling apart by then anyway...


The promo CD single that I`m sharing with y`all includes 5 tracks in total. You get the Radio Version, an 8 minute Extended Remix that features an intro by Dr. Dre & then it`s followed up by a lil` freestyle by Snoop Dogg before Rage finally comes in to rock for the rest of the track. The G-Funk Remix features a lil` intro type of thing where you hear Rage talkin` with someone who`s encouraging her to have some Hennessy, but she ain`t have none of that! She goes on saying that she`s got skills & doesn`t need to DiSS anyone, I wonder just who they were trying to get her to DiSS?....LoL, the LP Version & then the Instrumental close out the single. So there ya have it folks, this single is definitely worth checkin` out so go on & do so...





Label: Death Row Records
Released: 1994



1. Afro Puffs [Radio Version] {ft. Snoop Dogg}
2. Afro Puffs [Extended Rmx] {ft. Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg}
3. Afro Puffs [G-Funk Rmx] {ft. Snoop Dogg}
4. Afro Puffs [LP Version] {ft. Snoop Dogg}
5. Afro Puffs [Instr.]












Rage speaks on 2Pac`s impact on her while she was down with Tha Row...






N`JoY...