BiG PuN`s "PRe-TRiaL MoTioN" [PRoMo TaPe]...

Gotta say that I miss Big Pun, dude`s humor was definitely refreshing for HiP HoP! With that said, I was going thru my HiP HoP collection last night searching for something to share with y`all & came across this cassette that I hadn`t listened to since I first got it from DJ LiNT`d PoCKeTs back in 1998. This joint right here is a lil` promo tape that Loud Records put together just before Pun`s first album "Capital Punishment" was released to help generate a buzz...

It features a few cuts from that album as well as a few collabo`s that Pun did along with a couple B-Side singles. Another cool thing about this tape is that the track "I`m Not A Player" is slightly different that the album version, so that alone is worth checkin` it. Originally while I was editing the files I was going to filter out the cassette~hiss, but when I tried it just sounded like Big Pun had eaten some Yoplait Tubes....LoL, so I decided to just leave them alone. The only thing that I did was adjust the volume & separate the tracks for easier listening -- so go `head & give this a listen...

Big Pun - Pre-Trial Motion [Promo Tape]

Label: Loud Records

Released: April, 1998

SiDe A

1. Twinz (Deep Cover `98) {ft. Fat Joe}

2. Toe To Toe {ft. Cuban Link}

3. Off The Books {ft. Cuban Link}

4. Wishful Thinking {ft. Fat Joe, B-Real & Kool G. Rap}

SiDe B

5. The Dream Shatterer

6. Firewater {ft. Fat Joe, Raekwon & Armageddon}

7. You Ain`t A Killer

8. I`m Not A Player

R.i.P. BiG PuN...

LL CooL J`s "DouBLe L CooLs DowN"...

Got somewhat of a rarity for y`all today! What I have for y`all is an LL Cool J album that was released in 1996, what`s interesting is that it wasn`t released on Def Jam Records like the rest of his albums. It was actually released thru On Top Records, honestly I`m not at all familiar with the label. Attempted to do a lil` research on it, but the only thing that I could find that they released was this album here. Another interesting fact is that LL doesn`t go by Cool J on this album, it`s just labeled "Double L Cools Down"...

Not too sure what the deal is, maybe LL was upset with Def Jam at the time & needed to release some steam so he put out this project on the low, who knows? If somebody has a bit more info` on this album, by all means share it with me! Another theory that I have is that maybe these tracks are left over joints that didn`t make the cut for the 1995 "Mr. Smith" album. Something else to note, the track "Candyman" was also included on the 1994 Soundtrack for the "Jason`s Lyric" movie. The soundtrack version is a bit different than the version that`s included on the "Double L Cools Down" album, it`s a lot more polished sounding -- LL`s lyrics are the same though...

Anyway the source files that I had weren`t the best quality, so I adjusted the volume on a few of the tracks. I also tried to get rid of all the pops & clicks, but wasn`t really able to do so without the files sounding all jacked up so I just left that aspect alone. If ya have any issues with the sound let me know. Go `head & check out the tunes...

LL Cool J - Double L Cools Down

Label: On Top Records

Released: 1996

1. Intro (Mr. Smith`s Party)

2. Mr. Smith

3. Dear Lover

4. Pump My Shit

5. Soliloquy [Interlude]

6. Candyman

7. Set It Off New York

8. New York Mentality

9. 2 Minute Warning To Shake That Ass [Interlude]

10. Bring On The Mo`s & Ho`s

11. Forever Yours

You can DL the version of "Candyman" that`s from the "Jason`s Lyric Soundtrack" here...

N`JoY...

KRS-One`s "BaCK To The L.A.B." (LyRiCaL Ass BeaTiNG) EP...

Not really too sure what the story is behind this lil` EP from KRS-One. My homie DiRTy KooL AiD got this as a CD-R from a KRS-One concert, at least that`s the story he told me....LoL, in all honesty it`s far from KRS-One`s best work. I`m guessin` it`s just a lil` somethin` he dropped as promo before "Meta-Historical" the collabo` album with True Master. It`s just under 20 minutes, that`s why my guess is that it`s strictly for promo. Either way give it a listen if you`re curious...

KRS-One - Back To The L.A.B. (Lyrical Ass Beating) EP

Label: N/A

Released: 2010

1. Who Da Best?

2. Omni-Hood

3. Wolf

4. Show Shocked

5. Never Afraid

6. Tek-Nology

N`JoY...

KRS-One & DJ PReMieR`s "CRiMiNaL MiNDeD `08" [PRoMo 12 iNCH]...

This here is an unofficial/ bootleg promo 12 inch that was released in 2008. The Vodka company Smirnoff did a lil` promo type thing with a Hip Hop theme, it was called the Smirnoff Signature Mix Series (they even had a website for it, it`s no longer up now though). They took 3 great Hip Hop tracks & gave `em a 2008 vibe because each track represented a drink that they were promoting. KRS-One teamed up with DJ Premier for "Criminal Minded `08", their drink was called "The Cypha" (Smirnoff Raspberry Flavored Vodka & Pineapple Juice)...

 

Common teamed up with Just Blaze for "The Light `08", their drink was called "The Southside" (Smirnoff Green Apple Flavored Vodka & Cranberry Juice). While Q-Tip teamed up with producers Cool & Dre for "Midnight `08" & their drink was called "The Blueberry Abstract" (Smirnoff Blueberry Vodka & Lemonade). All 3 tracks were released together (along with their Instrumentals) on a promo 12 inch by Smirnoff in 2008, the downside was that they were all the Clean/Radio Edit versions...

Unfortunately this bootleg 12 inch only has the KRS-One & DJ Premier collabo` "Criminal Minded `08", however the plus side is that you get the Dirty version along with the Clean & Instrumental. The only issue that I have with this 12 inch is that the label states the Dirty version has the Intro like the Clean version does, but that`s actually not the case. The Clean version is the only track that has it....LoL, not a BiG deal though. Anyway I`m done rambling go `head & peep the tunes for ya`self & check out the music video while you`re at it (it`s actually the Dirty version with the Intro....LoL)...

KRS-One & DJ Premier - Criminal Minded `08 [Promo 12 Inch]

Label: Backstreet

Released: 2008

1. Criminal Minded `08 [Dirty without Intro]

2. Criminal Minded `08 [Clean]

3. 3. Criminal Minded `08 [Instr.]

You can DL the "Criminal Minded `08" music video in mp4 format right here...

N`JoY...

BooGie DoWn PRoDuCTioN`s "My PHiLoSoPHy" [12 iNCH PRoMo]...

Continuing on the BDP tip, this promo single was released in 1988. "My Philosophy" is from the Boogie Down Production album "By All Means Necessary" also released in 1988. On this 12 inch you get 3 different versions of "My Philosophy"; the Album Mix, an Extended Remix & then the Single Edit -- you also get the Instrumental. In all honesty there isn`t much difference between the 3 versions, a few slight variations & that`s about it...

The Extended Remix is obviously a lil` longer than the Album Mix while the Single Edit has KRS spittin` acapella towards the end of the track because the beat fades out before he`s finished spittin`. Regardless the track is straight CLaSSiC so just take your pick between the 3 versions. What`s DoPe about the lyrics that KRS-One spits is that even though ish was done way back in 1988 they`re still relevant today. Just check these couple of lines...

"Rap is like a setup, a lot of games, a lot of suckas with colorful names

 The way some act in Rap is kinda wack & it lacks creativity & intelligence

But they don`t care because they company`s selling it..."

Definitely a 12 inch for the real fans of Hip Hop, check out the video for some good ol` retro ish...

Boogie Down Productions - My Philosophy [12 Inch Promo]

Label: Jive

Released: 1988

A1. My Philosophy [Album Mix]

A2. My Philosophy [Extended Rmx]

B1. My Philosophy [Single Edit]

B2. My Philosophy [Instr.]

N`JoY...