Tape Kingz #9: Thee Mike B

Off to the West Coast for Tape Kingz #9, with super talented DJ Thee Mike B. Mike has done too much in his career to cover in the short space I have here but check his recent appearance on the ROAD podcast for his full story. It's a good listen. In terms of why he's a good person to speak to about 90s hip hop mixtapes, amongst other things he was an intern for Jon Shecter and Stretch Armstrong back in the day during the Game Recordings era. Check his stellar Top 3 and some equally dope honourable mentions...

DJ Spinbad & JS One - Cold Cutz Remixes (1997) The most intricate, interesting and simply the DOPEST of all blend tapes.

Tony Touch -Tape 50: Power Cypha (1996) This is one that changed the game. 50 freestyles from 50 MC's over all the dopest beats. Infinite respect to Tony Toca! This shit is so crazy I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around it. 

DJ Rob One - Can't Be Stopped (1994) This changed the game for me. I might not be a DJ today had I not copped this at 555-Soul on Martel in '94. Shout out Julie Z.

Honourable mentions:  

DJ S&S and Craig G - N!ggaz Don't Give A Fuck (1996). So many exclusives when it came out. The first place I heard Akinyele "Put It In Your Mouth", CNN's "LA,LA" and many, many more classics. S&S is still one of my favorites and has so much swag it’s crazy.

DJ Ev and Stretch Armstrong - Back 2 Back (1996).This is a perfect rap mixtape. I bought it at Fat Beats on a trip to NY in Fall of 1996. I was obsessed with it. Years later, Stretch would become my employer and ultimately, one of my best friends.

DJ Ev - Hotter This Year part 2 (1997)

Man like Diablo came through with another box of tapes out of his insane collection so guess I've got enough reasons to keep this blog active for the foreseeable future*. DJ Ev mixes are always good so this was one of the first tapes I went for...

As with every mixtape from 1997 it includes You Know My Steez which is no bad thing. I heard that LL and Busta collab on a Westwood tape recently and it's not half bad all things considered which makes me wonder if the Phenomenon LP is actually a bit slept on. I mean, it has Father on it which prevents it from any kind of classic status even if the rest is 5 mic stuff but I might give it a listen at some point.

Speaking of Westwood, the mixcloud archive is still very much on and popping (and not every tape will get posted here) so keep an eye on that and get in touch if you have any shows to share


*The 1000th post where I said I'd probably stop was the most hits and comments in ages, the posts since then were back to normal. I don't do it for the comments but that's still weird to me. You lot are weird.

DJ Ev - School's In Session (1995)

Thought I'd start the new decade off with another tape out of DJ MK's collection.
This mix is by Long Island's DJ Ev, who I first heard of when Stretch Armstrong mentioned him on his (now defunct?) blog.
Ev is very nice on the cuts and from the few tapes I've heard is an all-round dope DJ who went on to roll with Funkmaster Flex's crew. Lots of 1995 goodness on this one. Tracklist is in the comments section

DOWNLOAD   STREAM SIDE A   STREAM SIDE B

If you like this make sure you check these out:

Stretch Armstrong and DJ Ev 'Back 2 Back' (1996)

DJ Ev 'Hotter This Year' (1996)

Funkmaster Flex & DJ Ev 'Big Dog Pitbulls pt 2' (1998)

Hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year. Back to work and the old routine tommorow morning. I'll try and dig out some more treats to help you get through the next few weeks!

UPDATE: I got in touch with Ev via his myspace. apparently I got the title wrong!
"it's School's In Session and the Big Dawg Pitbulls Pt 2 tape is also hosted by Redman.
I like the update in your review, however, your original line "should have went on to bigger things" is accurate as well - lol...
Thanks again - Ev"