What`s good? What`s happenin`?? What`s lovely ya`ll??? Earlier today I was going thru some more of the files on that external harddrive that I`ve been tellin` y`all about in some of the previous posts & found this somewhat of a rarity, physically anyway. Figured it was only right to share it with y`all because honestly I feel it should be heard by more folks! What`s great about this one is that I can tell y`all how I ended up with this. It was waaaaaaaay back in 2007, it was probably in the Summer or early Fall. The homie Rusty Needle put the CD on while we were celebrating 420 at 7:30 in the PM. 😉 Instantly I had him Nero CD burning it for me! At the time I hadn`t heard it, I was blown away by the Nate Dogg feature. Can`t lie, I`ve always dug Nate`s skills musically oth rappin` & especially the singing! The fact that he had done a song with Scarborough`s (Toronto stand up!) Bishop Brigante was incredibly awesome in my ears. The subject matter of said tune only made me dig it more.😆Aside from funding, that`s the only reason why this tune didn`t get the shine that it truly should have received. Perhaps the song was too far ahead of its time, I`m just guessing that Bishop`s label couldn`t afford the video fees. This single should most definitely received a music video in my opinion!!!
What`s good? What`s happenin`?? What`s lovely y`all??? Hope all is well with you & your loved ones, the world keeps gettin` crazier & crazier out there! It`s been a minute since I`ve posted up something for y`all so I figured that I dust off a good ol` bootleg 12 inch. I can`t even front, I really like bootlegs because there`s usually a gem or 2 that you end up gettin` to hear. Unfortunately tho there`s also some pretty bad bootlegs out there, so not every one of them is a treasure that`s worth your hard earned money, but I`ll always check `em out taking that risk. With that being said let`s get into this bootleg 12 inch release that was put out thru the label Old School Hip-Hop, very original indeed.😆From their output release~wise they`ve got about 8 volumes of bootlegs out there. This is the only 12 inch of the 8 that I`ve actually heard so I can`t really speak on the others yet, I`m sure that`ll change eventually tho...
Overall this isn`t that bad of a bootleg to grab, I mean you can`t go
wrong with Biggie`s "Dreams" & getting the instrumental is a pretty
DoPe bonus! Chubb Rock`s "Treat `Em Right" is another great song, my
opinion of course. The last 3 tunes on the B-side will definitely make
it hard for you to get the Chubbster`s song out of your head tho since
they contain samples of the beat within them. The only song that I
wasn`t really diggin` all that much on here was the Rockers Revenge`s
"Walking On Sunshine [Rmx]". Not sure who did the remix, but I
definitely prefer the original version over this remix. It just sounds
lazily done to me, almost like whoever put it together just threw it
over a looped sample. The "Yo-Yo-Yo" that`s repeated kind of drowns out
the vocals on the song. Again this is just my opinion, someone else out
there may very well love it. The Unknown Artist`s track on here is
actually Funkmaster Flex`s "C`Mon Baby [Ghetto Mix]" it was definitely a
staple in the clubs of NYC in the 90`s. Funkmaster Flex`s Jazzy Mix of
"C`Mon Baby" closes things out, it`s pretty good but I still like the
previous track more. Check this record out if you get the chance, it`s not
a bad listen at all...
First off, BiG~uPs & much ReSPeCT goes out to dirt_dog for the original source file! I
felt that this joint was something that needed some sort of
documentation when it comes to Hip Hop History. So I decided to edit it
up by separating the tracks & interludes, as well as BuMP`n up the
volume on a few tracks just to make it more enjoyable. I really miss the
days of record labels actually coming up with some original promo type of stuff when it came to an album. You know
to generate a buzz for their soon-to-be-released albums. At times you
could end up hearing an unreleased version of a song or a remix. Sadly,
however with this promo tape that`s not the case! This joint just
consists of album snippets & some interludes that has Guru actin`
like he`s sneakin` a listen of these snippets amongst one of his homies...
What`s good? What`s happenin`?? What`s lovely my people??? Hope all is well with y`all! Today I`m celebrating the fact that I was able to revive an external HDD from 7 years ago that I thought was long dead, since it stopped working in 2021. First off I`m not sure if you`d call this the demo version or the original version of N.W.A.`s "Just Don`t Bite It". Y`all know that oral sex anthem from the 1990 released EP titled "100 Miles & Runnin`"?
This version is unreleased however, it`s pretty much the same vocally as
the retail release, the only difference really at least to me is the
beat. I really wish that I knew about the story behind this version, but
I`ve got to be honest. I found this on a recently revived lost HDD from
about 7 years ago. Can`t remember where exactly I grabbed the file
from, but it`s definitely not my rip.....I say rip because it sounds
like it was sourced from a cassette tape. I downloaded the file sometime
back in 2020...
What`s good? What`s happenin`?? What`s lovely y`all??? Hopefully Life`s treating you well, it`s rough out here for a Human nowadays! With that being said I`m here to celebrate this highly overlooked album from the Canadian Hip Hop Ambassador himself, Mr. Kardinal Offishall. It`s been so over~look`D that I had to put my HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN touches on it. You know, so it receives the proper light that it should be getting.😉 It`s actually his debut album titled "Eye & I" originally released back in 1997 thru Capitol Hill Music Inc. The album was recorded during 1996 & 1997. Kardi` produced most of the album himself; except for "Sweet Marie" & "Jeevin (Life)" which were produced by Saukrates. While the both of them produced the opening track "Breakdown (Keep Moving)" together...
So let`s keep it moving & get to the "Breakdown" shall we? YeS-YeS, it`s fresh & smooth with features from Saukrates & Denosh (some of y`all may have heard her on the Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth joint "It`s A Love Thing" released in 2004). It`s a decent way to open up an album, Kardinal flexes his lyrical prowess while Denosh & Saukrates mellow out the hook. The album`s first single "On Wid Da Show" follows with some features from Afrolistics (a.k.a. Ro Dolla) & Tara Chase. It`s most definitely the first banger on Mr. Offishall`s debut...
"Da Brown" is next & I`m not even goin` to front this hook got stuck in my head for 2 weeks straight after revisiting it for some reason. Probably because it reminds me of that 1980`s Body Rap toy😉 Kardi` does his thing of course. The first "Hint-A-Lude" is pretty much just a one time listen thing. It`s not ever a necessity to enjoy the rest of the album, but you know how the `90's albums were with their skits & interludes. BiG~uP De La Soul! 😆 "Mysteries" follows with its smooth`D~out vibes, I`m sure that there`s a few uncredited features on this joint because I can clearly hear that there`s some other folks contributing but I`ve got no idea who they are, either way tho it`s a decent listen. "P.W.O.T."; the Ro Dolla a.k.a. Afrolistics & Kardinal Offishall collabo` comes next & neither emcee disappoints. Although I feel Kardinal owns the track, my opinion of course. "Brothers function with an automatic slang, Yang makes the Yin. We slang rhyme banging off the walls like Brooklyn Smalls, yo we Biggie"!!!
The woman~appreciation anthem "My Niah" featuring L.J a.k.a. Lock Jaw comes next & gives women the respect that they`re deserving, ladies we do love all of y`all!😉"Madmoizellez" has Kardi` flexin` game to his girl, while Wade O. Brown provides the R&B vibes to the hook & the rest of the track. From what I know of Wade O. Brown, he has been doin` his thing on the R&B tip as early as 1997 up in Canada. I first heard him on the Beat Factory`s "GROOVEssentials Vol. 1" compilation on the track "Give Me The Chance". Once again the second "Hint-A-Lude" isn`t anything of necessity, listening~wise. "Make It Happen" features Van~City`s Red1 of the Rascalz, bringin` an East/West Canadian collabo` to the album. Kardi` & Red1 pretty much hold their own going back & forth over the Kardinal Offishall produced track which also includes an uncredited Saukrates feature on the song`s hook. "W.I. Philosophi" is another interlude & it features Miss Raelene, I`m not exactly sure who she is. Most likely someone that Kardinal knows, sadly tho she`s delivering a message that`s still~relevant today, some 27 years later!!!
"Sweet Marie" featuring Nicole Sinclair is next & has Kardi` paying homage & respect to his mother, just as all men should! Not quite on "Dear Mama"`s level, however still a DoPe tune nonetheless! After the heart~felt stuff comes "Bellee Buss (Don`t Make Me Laugh)". This joint`s more of a lyrical skill flexin` track for Kardinal with it`s chucklin` 'get on it` hook sample. "LoLo" would definitely make Uncle Luke proud! I`m not sure if that was his intent, but it sure comes off that way to me with its Miami Bass Music vibes😉.Tara Chase is featured & introduced on the Kardinal produced "King Of Da Hill". Perhaps this was recorded before ''On Wid Da Show''? I couldn`t tell ya unfortunately. Even with its Jazzy vibes, I won`t even try to lie "Elle A" is the only track that I skip over on this album & realistically it`s not even a song it`s more of a super long interlude, so I don`t feel so bad in doing so😆. "Jeevin` (Life)", which also has the album`s second music video featuring Jully Black (Most will probably know of her work on Nas` "Heaven" track from 2002). Jully is flexin` her talent early on in her career here for y`all...
"Naughty Dread Pt. II" is the bangin` self~produced sequel to his introduction to the Hip Hop world on the 1996 released BeatFactory`s "Rap Essentials Vol. 1" compilation. I`m surprised that it never received an actual music video because the tune`s definitely a banger! Then again so should have the original, again that`s just my opinion. The third "Hint-A-Lude" isn`t anything special either after one listen. The double~time`D call & response "Friday Night" closes out the retail release of the album. It`s not the greatest of tunes to close out an album, but it`s still definitely enjoyable...
Now y`all know me...when I`m celebrating an album I try to make it a truly enjoyable experience for the listener, especially if the record labels are sleepin`! The fans definitely want this type of stuff, if you think other~wise you`re trippin` with no luggage & missin` out on some for~certain revenue! It`s y`all labels` loss, I`ll do ya` job for ya😏So on this HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN we definitely had to start things off by adding the very first song that I heard from Kardinal Offishall; the self~produced "Naughty Dread" from the previously mentioned "Rap Essentials Vol. 1". A DoPe introduction indeed, but that`s only my opinion. Now for a much more rawer version, there`s the "Naughty Dread [Elington West Mix]". This is my preferred version simply because there`s no edits here yo! I truly enjoy this version of the track the most for obvious reasons 😆.
The "Naughty Dread [Rmx]" features Marvel & Ms. Nici on more of an underground grimy sound. Sadly it`s somewhat edited, but still enjoyable nonetheless, it`s also produced by Kardinal. The Saukrates produced "On Wid Da Show [Original Clean Mix]" features Jaden, Mali as well as Saukrates. In my opinion this version`s definitely much more on the catchier~side, word~up! Oh yeah, I also decided to include some YouTube ripped music video files for "Jeevin`" & "On Wid Da Show" as an extra added bonus. So enjoy & celebrate this underappreciated debut from one of Canada`s iLLeST talents. Thank you Mr. Offishall for blessin` HiP HoP with this mighty fine album right here, I SaLuTe ya` efforts & appreciate the many hours that I`ve spent listened to it & the many more hours that you spent creating this gem!!!
