AZ, Raekwon & Ghostface - New York Get Down (Step One mix)

AZ, Rae & Ghost on the Nas - Get Down beat. Thought I would post up this blend off the last mix I did (cop here if you somehow haven't already), partly because it's good but also I've never really uploaded anything to YouTube and wanted to try it out. Might get a few more things on there if it does some numbers (reaches double figures)

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Ghostface & Cappadonna - Choice FM freestyle (1996)

Quick Ghostface and Cappadonna freestyle going in over the Hell On Earth instrumental on 279's Friday Night Flavas back in October '96.
This would've been around the time Ironman dropped as they also hit Westwood's show during their visit to London.

DJ Filthy Rich - Supreme Clientele: 20th Anniversary mix

Filthy Richard done did it again. I hit him up about doing this towards the end of last year when I realised the 20th anniversary of Ghost's sophomore album was coming up, and he had already set the wheels in motion. This dropped last week so here's the link if you didn't check it out already.

Radio 1 Rap Show 26.10.96 with Ghostface, Cappadonna & Jeru The Damaja

More Westwood action. The previous night had been a Live To The UK jam broadcast from Adrenalin Village in Chelsea where Ghost & Cappa performed. I posted the tape of that years ago (and it's also been added to the Hip Hop Radio Archive and the Mixcloud page). Off the back of that someone sent me the freestyle where Jeru is also in the house. Now, over 10 years later, I finally have 90 minutes of the show for you. Bobby J is in the mix for the first part, before then you get the freestyle and live callers in the second half.

Shout to DJ Kryptonn for the rip.

Its Overture - The Iron Age (2016)

It's Overture follow up their excellent Hot 97 Tapes mix with this celebration of the 20th anniversary of Ghostface's solo debut...

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You'll notice this is a collaboration with Up North Trips, so big up to Ev Boogie, and make sure you check his recently published book 'No Sleep: NYC Nightlife Flyers 1988-1999' , put together in collaboration with Stretch Armstrong.

Personal Top 5 Wu Tang albums:
1 Only Built For Cuban Links
2 Supreme Clientele
3 Enter The Wu Tang: 36 Chambers
4 Ironman
5 Liquid Swords

Ghostface Killah - No Pork On My Fork (2004)

Kay Slay hosting a best of Ghostface mix. What else do you need to know before you click the link?

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I didnt scan the tracklist as in true mixtape fashion it's not entirely accurate, but as pretty much everything in the GFK catalogue could warrant inclusion on a CD like this it's not that important (I labelled all the files correctly anyway).

You can still get my 'Tony Starks Collection' of unreleased/obscure/non-LP etc Ghostface cuts here.
Hopefully. Links seem to die stupidly quickly these days.

OB4ZL presents: The Tony Starks Collection

There's alot of Ghostface Killah material from the early/mid 00s that didn't make it onto Bulletproof Wallets and The Pretty Toney Album. Some appeared by way of mixtapes and 12" singles but this was back when some things that dropped on vinyl didnt always find their way onto the internet, at least not without Kay Slay or Clue shouting all over it. With that in mind, I've hooked up this compilation of GFK joints for you. A few of these got full releases, but you might have missed them, and others were only available 12"s of questionable origin...

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Tracklist
1 - The Watch ft Raekwon
One of my favourite GFK joints, utilising the same Barry White sample that Nas used on 'No Ideas Original'
2 - Cherchez La Ghost (Heartbeat remix) ft U-God
The idea of U-God on a certified club hit still seems strange now but it definitely happened. This remix (unreleased as far as I'm aware) flips Taana Gardner's classic 'Heartbeat' to nice effect.
3 - Good Times part II
I posted this up a few months back when I picked up the bootleg 12". A different take on the more well known version, with no Raekwon and a slighty different (better) beat.
4 - Live From The PJs w/ The X-Ecutioners, Trife & Black Thought
From the DJ crew's 2nd LP, going for that live park jam feel. A precursor of sorts to 'In The Park' (which also featured Black Thought) off the 'Apollo Kids' album.
5 - Face Off w/ Scarface
Collabs like these dont always add up to the sum of their parts. Especially when they're being donated to a third party. This track from Kay Slay's 2nd album is one of the exceptions to the rule. Very dope.
6 - Pretty Tony Shoulda...
The De La Soul dis track. Essentially the verse from 'He Comes' off De La's 'The Grind Date' album, but with some added beef.
7 - Guerilla Hood
I love this track. It was the standout on the patchy Theodore Unit album from 2004. Still sounds strange hearing it without Kay Slay yelling over it though.
8 - Mighty Healthy (DJ Step One blend)
Using the instrumental from Pete Rock's 'We Roll'. Ghost fits nicely over the Kool & The Gang loop. One of my favourite blends
9 - No, No, No
This was one was 12" only as far I remember. Ghost over Dawn Penn's reggae hit. I frequently used to throw this on alongside shit like Sean Paul and Kevin Lyttle when I was DJing Top 40/R&B nights way back when.
10 - Smith Brothers ft Trife
According to Discogs the Theodore Unit album only has the clean mix of this so here's the dirty version.
11 - Kay Slay freestyle ft Trife
Another one I posted up some time ago, as part of my Kay Slay freestyles compilation. Ghost & Trife go in over EPMD's 'You're A Customer'.
12 - The Drummer ft Method Man, Trife & Street Life
13 - Got Gats ft Solomon Childs & Killer Bamz
I'd ripped these off 12" and already uploaded this comp when I realised they're also on the Theodore Unit CD. I thought I'd leave em in as they're solid enough and I cant imagine many people bump '718' on the regular.
14 - Set It Off
Also off the afore mentioned vinyl. This is Ghost & Trife over the instrumental from one of Big Daddy Kane's finest moments.
15 - Run ft Jadakiss & Comp
This is the version which includes the additional third verse by Comp (who was on Def Jam at the time). I've been asked for it a few times as it seems it was only on the UK promo of 'Tush'.

The Evil Genius! Green Lantern blends and freestyles

During the mixtape boom of the early 00s, Green Lantern was absoloutely killing it. Whereas other DJs had their niche in exclusives, blends or dis tracks, GL would drop mixes filled with all 3. Its like Rectangle, Kay Slay and Dirty Harry combined. His knack for selecting dope beats enhanced the freestyles on his CDs and his attention to detail when he puts his blends together is ridiculous. With that in mind, here's a compilation of some of my favourite moments from a few of his mix CDs.

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Tracklist
1- Green Lantern 'Many Men'
Fat Joe, Eminem & Nas verses over one of 50's finest moments.
2 - Cam'ron & Jay Z 'Welcome To NYC' (Green mix)
Green chucks Cam & Jay's only collabo over the 'Can I Live' beat. There's not much I wouldnt do for an untagged CDQ version of this.
3 - Fat Joe 'U Dont Know freestyle'
A good example of the beat making or breaking the freestyle. Joey Crack over one of the better tracks from 'The Blueprint'
4 - CNN & MOP 'Stompdashitoutyou' (Green mix)
This 03 collaboration was on the Def Jam Vendetta "soundtrack". Turns out it sounds rowdier and better over the 'Straight Outta Compton' instrumental.
5 - Ghostface Killah 'Survivor freestyle'
Tony Starks over 'Ambitions Az A Ridah'? Its a wrap.
6 - Green Lantern 'The Throwback Mix'
Pretty sure I've mentioned on more than one occasion that everyone sounds dope over the 'Ikes Mood' piano break. This is no exception. Jigga, Styles P and Pac all get a run out on this one.
7 - Gang Starr 'Freestyle'
Because I had to get a Primo beat on here somewhere didn't I?
8 - Pharrell 'The Ice Cream Man'
Skateboard P over 'Ice Cream' and 'CREAM' (you see what I was saying about attention to details?). This is something of a guilty pleasure. It shouldnt work but it does. Just dont focus on the lyrical content too much.
9 - Green Lantern 'Addicted To Retail'
I don't recognise the beat used on this one (anyone?) but Biggie, Kanye and Foxy Brown all sound right at home on it.
10 - Jay Z 'Got Me On My Shit'
Another one that might aggravate hardcore Wu Tang-ers a bit. Jay over a beat that's basically 'Shadowboxing' with a few changes. I think the raps are off something on 'Blueprint 2'. Works.
11 - Redman & Paul Wall 'Freestyle'
From Green's show on Shade 45. This is pretty much settles the "writtens vs off-the-dome" debate. To his credit, Paul Wall rhymes off the top of his head, albeit with mixed results but then Redman steps up and kills it.

Ghostface Killah 'Good Times' part 2 (2002)

To be honest I had no idea this existed until I found it on 12" recently. It's not really a 'Part 2' as much as remake or remix of the original 'Good Times' which was one of the tracks left off 'Bulletproof Wallets' and heavily bootlegged as a result (although there is an official promo 12").


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This differs from 'part one' in that the beat is a bit more polished, theres no Raekwon, and theres some additional lyrics from Ghost. Personally I prefer this version.

Ghostface & Raekwon 'Good Times' (DJ Step One blend)

Here's a quick blend for you: Ghost & Rae's 'Good Times' acapella over the instrumental of LL's 'Fa Ha' (produced by DJ S&S)...

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"break bread, ribs, 100 dollar bills..."

Spotted at realniggatumblr

Kay Slay freestyles

Sorting through some CDs yesterday I found an old compilation of freestyles from Kay Slay mixtapes that I'd copped on a visit to Canal Street back in 2004. Here's the pick of the bunch...

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Tracklist
1- Big L, Black Rob, Puertorock & Bathgate
2- Cam'ron & McGruff
3- Capone N Noreaga
4- Da Ranjahz
5- Ghostface & Trife
6- Prodigy
7- Sauce Money

Ghostface, Cappadonna & Jeru on Westwood (1996)

Ghostface, Cappadonna and Jeru freestyling on Radio 1 in late '96, possibly from around the same time as this show.

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Ghostface Killah 'Mighty Healthy' (DJ Step One blend)

I haven't had any time to rip tapes this week and seeing as I haven't posted one of my blends for a while I thought I'd drop this one on you. I put the acapella of Ghostface's 'Mighty Healthy' over the instrumental to Pete Rock's 'We Roll' and it turned out quite nicely...

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I actually really liked the original Pete Rock track with Jim Jones & Max B (seriously!) but Ghostface's vocals fit just as nicely over the Kool & The Gang break.
I was kind of disappointed when PR & GFK hooked up for 'Be Easy' (on 'Fishscale') but hopefully they'll work together again in the future. Once Ghost gets that R&B album out the way of course.

BONUS: Heres where the Soul Brother #1 got the original sample:

Kool & The Gang 'You Dont Have To Change'

Ghostface & Cappadonna live in London (1996)

Ghostface and Cappa touch down at Westwood's Live To The UK event at Adrenalin Village in Chelsea.
This was the week before 'Ironman' dropped and the pair perform '4th Chamber', 'Ice Cream' and 'Daytona 500'.