Cutmaster Swift ft Guru, MC Storm & Jeopardy - Choice FM exclusive (1991)

Thought I'd found another early 90s Gang Starr radio freestyle when this one started up, but it turns out there's a more interesting back story to it. It begins with the **Choice Exclusive** drop and Guru says it's a freestyle, before going into a verse from Hardcore Composer. The tape is dated 1991, so Daily Operation wasn't out at this point. He's then followed by 2 British MCs, which threw me a bit as the cuts in the chorus and the sound quality aren't what you would expect from a radio cypher. Needing some help, I hit up Craig and he thought one of the rappers sounded like Big Ted, which turned out to be correct. I hit Ted up on Instagram and he gave me the details...

It's actually production by Cutmaster Swift featuring MC Storm (Swift's brother) and myself on the extra verses. It originally began as a freestyled acapella from Guru for 279 and he suggested Swift put a beat to it and put Storm and me on there too, and there you have it. Just another one of those hip hop history magic moments.
Cheers for reminding me of it. I have it and the instrumental on a TDK MA metal tape somewhere.

Swift was one of the biggest hip hop DJs in the UK from the early days, and Ted was still known as Jeopardy back then. MC Storm was part of the No Parking MCs (thanks again to Craig for the knowledge) and had a couple of underground releases in the early 90s.

Kind of quirky, and this type of thing would be commonplace 10-15 years later when every mixtape DJ and aspiring producer got their hands on pro-tools but back then it was quite unusual as far as I know. I was going to title it Gang Starr - Hardcore Composer (rare demo version) but thought that might be pushing it a bit. Even clickbait has boundaries.
Big up Eddie as always, I've nearly got through all his tapes now so it's nice that they're still producing results.

Large Professor on Kiss FM (2002)

Big Ted and Shortee Blitz interviewing The Live Guy With Glasses on their Kiss show back in 2002, when his First Class album was about to drop.

Shout out to Ted for posting this on his blog back in 2011. I thought I'd get it up on Mixcloud for those that missed it first time around.

Kiss FM Rap Show 17.03.04

Big Ted and Shortee Blitz drop tracks by Erick Sermon, Cam'ron, Jadakiss and Young Gunz, plus the excellent Bangers by Alchemist and Lloyd Banks. SAS and Mr Complex are the studio guests.

Big Ted & Shortee Blitz on Kiss FM 01.12.99

45 minutes of the Chubby Kids on Kiss from December '99. Includes music by The LOX, Dr Dre, Q Tip, Biggie, Karl Hinds, Iceberg Slimm and Hot Ones.

Also just uploaded 45 minutes of a Westwood show that was on the other side of this tape - 3rd December '99 with J Live and Asheru in the studio

Shortee Blitz & Big Ted on Kiss FM (23.06.04)

47 minutes of The Chubby Kids throwing down some heat on Kiss FM back in 2004, including new isht from MOP, Jadakiss, Nas, Beatnuts, Lakey The Kid, Yungun and Klashnekoff.

Mystro on Kiss FM (2004)

The man now officially rolling as Mysdiggi up on Kiss FM with Big Ted and Shortee Blitz back in 2004 around the time he dropped the Music Mystro EP. As you'd expect with these 3 in the same studio there's jokes and jams and then a big freestyle sesh with Youngblood joining him on the mic.

It's good to see Mys blowing up off the back of that Sainsburys advert, which has almost banished the memory of that Christmas shitshow they dropped with the horrific vocal stylings of Bantz4Hire cheese monster J Corden. Almost.

Shortee Blitz & Big Ted - Kiss FM 12.05.04

Shortee Blitz and Big Ted aka The Chubby Kids took over from Max & Dave on Kiss FM's Wednesday night Rap show around 1997. Here's 90 minutes from May 2004. UK veteran MC Mell'O' in the studio for a bit, and music from Nas, MOP, Pete Rock, The UN, Klashnekoff, Cali Agents and more.

I'll be back but for now just google...

Its a BDP reference. No posts recently due the house move now being in full effect. 20 years ago, almost to the week, I bought my first set of turntables - some Gemini belt drives. Today is the first time since then I haven't had them or my vinyl (or any CDs for that matter) in the house. Having lots of records is all well and good until it comes time to move, and then it's just a total bastard. Especially when you live on the 3rd floor with 5 flights of stairs and no lift. It's hard not to feel envious of the people who have all their music on a harddrive, or the types that just use iTunes and Spotify and occasionally buy a compilation from the supermarket.

Anyway, rant over. I feel like I may have posted something similar before but the point remains relevant. This is going to be one of those placeholder type posts where I put you up on them thangs I've discovered on my online travels. No one really sends me their mixes to post anymore. Feel free to do that if you've got something you want to share. Some decent artwork and being able to actually mix helps btw, although I'm fully aware I never have art for my own mixes. So...

Random Rap Radio continues to be a source of things you never heard before (for..for..never heard before...) like this Pete Rock & Marley Marl Future Flavas mixtape sampler for MCA Records from 1999

Remember The Supafriendz? They were Mad Skillz' crew back in the day. Bad Cop just put together this 'best of' mix featuring posse cuts, solo joints and radio freestyles. Check Supafriendz - Da Supa Mixtape

DJ Semtex shared a couple of old Bootcamp Click freestyles following the sad news about Sean Price (RIP).

DJ MK dropped his 'Watever Mixtape Vol 1' last week.

I recommend checking Big Ted's weekly show on Mi-Soul for new and classic Hip Hop.

Mark 563 has posted his dope 'Whats Real' mixtape from 2005 on Mixcloud, featuring all sorts of mid 90s classics.

If you want something to read while you're listening to these, the homie Stan Ipcus recently hooked up another one of his excellent Mixtape Memories pieces, this time interviewing Craig G.

That should keep you going for now. Have fun and enjoy whats left of the summer.

Edit - just realised that 4 of the 6 people linked above used to work in record shops in London. Weird. Shout out to Mr Bongo, Liberty Grooves, Handspun/Deal Real and HMV Oxford Street!

One other thing. I really wanted to like Compton and aside from the presence of Kendrick Lamar and Eminem the tracklist showed some promise. I can't remember the last time I was that pleased to receive a new release in my inbox, but on hearing it I thought the majority of it was rubbish with one or two songs being tolerable at best. The first track after the intro is particularly terrible. Comments I've read online - and there are many - suggest I'm very much in the minority but then as a general rule, comments online suggest most people are stupid. So there. There's a new Warren G EP out with previously unheard Nate Dogg vocals. I suggest you seek that out instead,

Chubby Kids on Kiss FM (2000)

Big Ted and Shortee Blitz holding it down on Kiss FM London in February 2000...

DOWNLOAD

Big Pun had just died so there's a few of his joints on here, aswell as new stuff by Common, Outsidaz, LL, Ghostface and more.
If you're in need of a night out in London you can catch Ted doing his thing at Supa Dupa Fly

DJ 279 - Friday Night Flava on Choice FM (1993)

DJ 279 has been holding it down on the radio since the early 90s. Unfortunately while Westwood was broadcasting nationally and Kiss FM covered London and the surrounding counties, picking up Choice FM was pretty much impossible if you were off the tube map. As a result, tapes of The Numberman's Friday Night Flava shows are harder to come by than those of his competition (I've been asking around for a while now). Fortunately that man Mr Lawson has come through with a show from June 1993



Hopefully some more tapes will surface soon. If you want to check out more in the meantime, check Big Ted's blog for some audio of Nas on the show in 1994.

A freestyle, a mix, a blend and a remix

Here's a few random bits and pieces I've found, been sent, and in the case of the blend made myself...


Big Ted sent over this Big Pun tribute mini-mix he made following the man's death over a decade ago
DOWNLOAD


Dirty Waters posted this rare freestyle by Big Daddy Kane, Sir Ibu & Kings Of Swing from around 1989-90.
DOWNLOAD

Another blend from myself: The Beatnuts 'Props Over Here' acapella over the 'Midnight' instrumental (one of favourite Tribe joints)
DOWNLOAD

AOL sent me over his remix of Large Professor's 'Rap Professional' which is very good and a must for those of you partial to some 90s boom-bap
DOWNLOAD

"I Was There" - exclusive Big Ted interview!

So I managed to get as far as a third interview! The feedback's been good so far so thanks to everyone who's enjoyed my previous efforts.
Stepping up with some Hip Hop stories and memories of his time in the game is someone who's been at the centre of the scene in London for longer than most, holding it down on Radio, TV, vinyl and live on stage...

Who You Be?

I be The Big Ted, Big Teddy Ted, Chubby Kid No 1, Jeopardy, Hip Hop personality like no other. South London representative til I die. Known for launching Friday Night Flava with DJ 279. Known for killing it on stage with Blak Twang & Ty as well as holding down one of the best hip hop radio shows for nearly 10 years on Kiss 100. Ask about me!

Pete Rock & The UN on Kiss FM (2001)

Pete Rock & The UN being interviewed by Big Ted on London's Kiss FM whilst they were in town promoting the 'Petestrumentals' album back in 2001.

DOWNLOAD

This is a pretty interesting interview, especially where Ted quizzes Pete on certain rappers he has/hasn't worked with, plus theres the mandatory freestyle session at the end, although its worth hearing for the Nas impressions alone!

Shout out to Mr Lawson for sending this one over.

You can catch Big Ted every friday at midnight on Colourful Radio

Chubby Kids on Kiss FM with Jehst, Supa T, DJ MK, Kyza, Blufoot, Mystro & Beni B (2002)

Whole heap of people in the studio on this one and some dope tunes aswell!
Jehst, Kyza & Supa T (aka Sundragon) are up there promoting 'Its All Live', their collaboration with DJ MK & Harry Love, which went on to be a massive track that year.
Mystro & Blufoot are also in the house and there's a nice freestyle session to finish things off (my tape cuts out a bit early unfortunately).

Also on the show, Beni B of ABB Records passes through and Blitz and Big Ted drop new tracks by Kool G Rap, Dilated Peoples, Tony Touch and Wu Tang.

Shortee Blitz & Big Ted - Kiss FM (1999)

Here's another dope Chubby Kids show from Kiss FM. Hard to believe this is 10 years old! Shortee goes in with some Pete Rock, Black Moon, Nas, Medina Green, Inspectah Deck and more.

UPDATE 24/01/18 - now available to stream/DL on the Hip Hop Radio Archive

Shout out to Big Ted who hit me up following the previous show I posted. Hopefully he'll be coming through with some treats in the near future. Get up in that loft mate!

You can catch him doing his thing every friday night on Colourful Radio. Several of the original Kiss DJs are on there aswell so if you were a listener back in the day check it out.

Shortee Blitz & Big Ted - Kiss FM (2000)

As the new millenium approached, Tim Westwood's shows were getting pretty tiresome. This was partly because he'd inked a compilation deal with Def Jam and was giving more airtime to their artists than anyone else. Also, he was trying way too hard to imitate Funkmaster Flex, and his playlist was reflecting a club set rather than playing new releases. I dont need to hear 'Hypnotize' and 'California Love' while I'm at home.
Anyway, those of us living close enough to London to pick up Kiss FM had an alternative. Shortee Blitz & Big Ted (aka The Chubby Kids) had a decent 2 hour show midweek that covered all bases, so you'd hear the latest from Jay Z or Nas alongside indie releases and new UK stuff. It was also refreshing to hear the presenters on a Hip Hop show cracking jokes and chatting rather than giving it loads of attitude.
Here's 60 minutes of a show from December 2000...

DOWNLOAD   STREAM SIDE A   STREAM SIDE B

Tracklist:
Intro
Saukrates 'unknown'
Shabazz The Disciple 'Brooklyn Bullshit'
MOP 'Cold As Ice'
Reveal 'Now You See Me'
Skitz ft Estelle, Tempa & Wildflower 'Domestic Science'
Pharoahe Monch 'Livin It Up'
Talib Kweli 'Move Somethin'
Masta Ace 'Ghetto Like'
Talib Kweli ft Blak Twang & TY 'Down For The Count' remix
Big L ft C Town 'Still Here'
Out Da Ville 'unknown'
Skeme & Rodney P 'UK Bubblers'
Grand Agent 'Every 5 Minutes'
unknown 'unknown'

Shortee Blitz website