CL Smooth - Future Flavas freestyle on Hot 97 (1995)

A brief appearance from CL Smooth on the first Future Flavas show hosted by Pete Rock and Marley Marl. CL drops a verse from Carmel City over the Brooklyn Zoo instrumental. Short and sweet, but good enough to warrant uploading.

Cipha Sounds on Hot 97 Throwback at Noon (2007)

Cipha Sounds with the classic selection on Hot 97's Throwback at Noon slot back in 2007...

Organized Konfusion – Stress 

GP Wu – Black On Black Crime 

Wu Tang Clan – Tearz 

Cocoa Brovaz ft Raekwon – Black Trump 

Styles P ft Pharoahe Monch – The Life 

Non Phixion – No Tomorrow 

Tragedy ft CNN & Mobb Deep – LA, LA 

DITC – The Enemy 

Gang Starr – All 4 The Cash 

Blackstar – Re:Definition 

Camp Lo – Luchini 

Jay Z – In My Lifetime 

Smooth Da Hustler – Broken Language 

Doo Wop – Da Bouncemaster 

Saukrates – Father Time 

Royal Flush – Worldwide 

Bash Ton – More Cheese 

Mos Def ft Ghostface – Ms Fat Booty part 2 

The Roots – The Lesson pt 1 

Wu Tang Clan – Wu Gambinos 

Natural Elements – Live It Up part 2 

Indelible MCs – The Fire In Which You Burn

Mighty Mi on Hot 97 (1997)

"Mighty Mi is going from records made this afternoon to records made when Lord Sear was thin..."

Mighty Mi takes over the 1210s on Stretch & Bobbito's Hot 97 show back in August 97. Some of this was on Soundcloud years ago but this version is longer. Shout out to Milo for hooking this up.

Funkmaster Flex - Friday Night Street Jams (16.04.93)

Early Flex on Hot 97. Grabbed this off Soundcloud ages ago. 128 kbps so its kind of tinny, but still a vibe regardless.
Not much else to post right now so thought I'd put this up.

Radio 1 Rap Exchange with Funkmaster Flex (21.01.95)

This was a tape I played to death but hadn't ripped until now. I've actually already posted a different recording of the show that Diablo gave me, which had the segments with Mobb Deep, Nas, Raekwon and Lil Dap in the studio. This new rip has the interviews cut out (I think I saved the freestyles on a separate tape) and is just Flex in the mix for 90 minutes. It's been pause buttoned here and there but this is how I remember it...

Here's the rip of Diablo's tape which picks up about 30 mins in


and here's the Mobb Deep and Nas freestyle

at some point I'll edit the 2 together and get that up on the Hip Hop Radio Archive

State Property - Hot 97 Takeover (2001)

Chances are you've heard this before, or at least some of it, but as it appeared on the second half of a Westwood show I just ripped I thought I'd post it up. Jay Z takes his crew of Philly spitters and Memphis Bleek up to Funk Flex's Hot 97 show and plays hypeman (somewhat annoyingly in hindsight) while they rap their AF1s off for the best part of 90 minutes. This is some legendary early 00s rap radio and no mistake. It's things like this where Spotify and their ilk will always fall short. Jay would make a killing if he could get mixtape shit like this on Tidal.

I'm not sure when this actually went down. Westwood is playing it in September but the time stamp on the camcorder footage on Youtube says January 2001. Anyone confirm?

The Radio 1 Rap Show I linked to above was actually the last one of the huge collection of tapes of shows from '99-'03 that I was given nearly 3 years ago. Can't believe I actually got them all done. The Westwood Archives Mixcloud page is looking pretty good as a result of that and contributions from others and is currently at 360 shows (mostly from myself) from 1987 to 2004. Still on the look out for more tapes so get in touch if you can help.

Other stuff that I meant to mention on the last update and forgot:

Filthy Rich stays busy cranking out the mixes, with his latest drops marking the anniversary releases of Pharoahe Monch's Internal Affairs and Method Man's Tical LPs

DJ Diablo (who's responsible for a good chunk of the Westwood tapes I've posted amongst other things) kicks off his new podcast with an interview with DJ MK. Some more big guests are promised for future episodes.

Random Rap Radio stays doing the most - recent posts include DJ Premier on Hot 97 back in '95, an Evil Dee Tape Kingz breakbeat mixtape and the classic Hobo Junction vs Heiroglyphics battle on the Wake Up Show in '94.

That should keep you busy.

Hot 97 - July '94

Some Hot 97 action from the summer of '94, with host Paco Lopez and then Balthazar for the last 15 minutes. Being an early evening slot this is a slightly more mainstream playlist than you might get on a Flex or Evil Dee mixshow but it's a nice selection nonetheless. I won't spoil it with a tracklist but if you want to pretend it's not dark and freezing outside tomorrow stick this one on and remember a time when Wu Tang dropping that guest verse on SWV's Anything was a big deal.

I would definitely recommend Its Overture's '94 State Of Mind' to accompany this.

Thanks to Random Rap Radio for the (unlabelled) tape. He's been busy over there recently so go see him.

Biggie & Craig Mack on Hot 97 (1994)

Not a tape I've ripped myself, but something I recently came across when I was browsing Soundcloud for the first time in ages. Brandan (shout out to Brandan) posted this up 3 years ago so you may have heard it already. To begin with I assumed it would be the show that spawned the infamous Live at The Palladium freestyle that appeared on the Nuttin But Flava 12", particularly as the freestyle on this uses the same Mad Lion instrumental. This is before that though, and is probably the Bad Boy duo's first appearance on Flex's influential Street Jam show. He's asking Biggie where he's from, what name he's officially going under and what label he's on, and he later has the exclusive play of Juicy although as you'll hear from his conversation with Puffy, Unbelievable hadn't made it's way onto his promo CD at this point. Hearing Big drop (at that time unheard) lyrics from Juicy and Everyday Struggle over Impeach The President and Craig Mack following him with Flava In Ya Ear about to hit the streets is a pretty iconic moment so although I don't usually jack content from other people I had to have this one and give it some additional shine. I've edited it down so you'll have to check Soundcloud if you want to hear Flex in the mix for the 50 minutes that preceded this. It was ripped at a really low bit rate unfortunately but it's listenable.

If you don't have time for the whole thing, here's the freestyle...



If you need more Fat Chris in your life Filthy Rich just dropped a Ready To Die 25th Anniversary Tribute mix. Check his Gravediggaz/Organized Konfusion blend project too while you're there.

Also, I'm running low on tapes to rip at the moment so if you've got any an want to share get in touch. I can return them when I'm done.

Evil Dee - Monday Night Flava Mix on Hot 97 (1996)

Another Evil Dee show on Hot 97, this time with Mic Geronimo in the studio. There's also an ad for the The Wiz promoting Eazy E's new album which apparently is/was "the most anticipated hip hop album of all time". Who knew?

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tracklist

Group Home - The Realness

AZ - Your World Don't Stop

Mad Lion & KRS One - Double Trouble

Heltah Skeltah - Let The Brainz Blo

unknown - unknown

Group Home - Suspended In Time (remix)

Large Professor - Mad Scientist

Paula Perry - Paula's Jam

Camp Lo - Killin Em Softly

Pharcyde - Drop (remix)

INI - Props

Mic Geronimo - interview

Mic Geronimo - Wherever You Are

Mic Geronimo ft OC & Royal Flush - Men vs Many

Mic Geronimo - Life Check

Mic Geronimo - Freestyle

INI - Props

Bahamadia - Rugged Ruff

Yvette Michelle - Everynight Everyday (blend w/ Doin It)

Evil Dee - Monday Night Flava Mix on Hot 97 (1994)

Another Evil Dee tape, this time live on Hot 97 at the tail end of 94, mixing up old and new rap with some blends...

Download at the Hip Hop Radio Archive

Usher - Think Of You

Group Home - Supastar

Super Kids - The Tragedy (Don't Do It)

Jeru The Damaja - Can't Stop The Prophet (Pete Rock remix)

Stephanie Mills - (You're Puttin) A Rush On Me (blend)

Dr Dre & Ice Cube - Natural Born Killaz

unknown - Ghetto Love? (blend)

Nas - One Love

unknown - unknown

Crooklyn Dodgers - Crooklyn

Heather B - I Get Wreck

Ice Cube - What Can I Do (Eastside remix)

Gang Starr ft Nice & Smooth - DWYCK

Public Enemy - Don't Believe The Hype

Public Enemy - Rebel Without A Pause

Run DMC - Peter Piper

Mobb Deep - Hit It From The Back

King Sun - Humm Deez Nuts

Brand Nubian ft Busta Rhymes - Alladat

Capleton - Tour (remix)

Rude Rydims - Everybody Bounce

Scarface - I Never Seen A Man Cry

The Roots - Silent Treatment

Funkmaster Flex - Hot 97 Street Jams (1993)

Flex getting busy back in the nine-tray. Remember when years got given names?

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tracklist

Nice N Smooth - Cash In My Hands

Timezone - Zulu War Chant

Wu Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck

Ice Cube ft Das EFX - Check Yo Self (remix)

EPMD - You're A Customer

Joeski Love - Pee Wee's Dance

Slick Rick - The Ruler's Back

Eric B & Rakim - My Melody

Beastie Boys - Hold It Now, Hit It

Doug E Fresh & Slick Rick - La Di Da Di

Biz Markie - Nobody Beats The Biz

Eric B & Rakim - Eric B Is President

MC Shan - The Bridge

BDP - South Bronx

Audio Two - Top Billin

BDP - The Bridge Is Over

Shyne & Black Rob - Hot 97 freestyle (2000)

This has been sitting on my hard drive for ages and I've no idea where I got it from* but it made me realise that I miss the days of finding Hot 97 freestyles online and on mixtapes. Hearing BR do his verse from Let's Get It over the Keep It Thoro beat is a highlight. Full 30 mins above, freestyle (with DL link) below...

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*think it was off the Grime & Lime forum when that was briefly popping last year. Forget who posted it but as a significant amount of bits shared on there originated from this very site I don't feel too bad. Thanks anyway.

Funkmaster Flex - Hot 97 Street Jams 28.07.95 with Method Man & Redman

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This is what was going down in NYC 23 years ago today. Flex hosts his Friday night Street Jam show alongside Big Dennis, with Meth & Red passing through the studio and dropping the obligatory freestyle. Everything you'd expect Flex to be playing is in here: Lost Boyz, AZ, Wu Tang and Mary J, plus Mobb Deep, Kool G Rap and a nice indie joint right at the end that I hadn't heard before. Even the commercial break has some heat, with Biggie rapping over the Dogg Pound's New York New York beat for St Ides and a Tower Records ad for Only Built For Cuban Linx. There's also this...

"...I hit you with that Luniz joint...hmm, verdict is still out...I Got 5 On It. In New York we put 20 on it"

Flex showcasing his astute A&R skills there. It's not quite as bad as Mr Magic's opinions on Public Enemy, BDP and the Beastie Boys but it does show how tough it was for rappers from other regions to get play on the East Coast. Interestingly he plays the Weedless mix, which despite owing it on vinyl I have never played and initially thought it was some rare demo or promo.

Anyone know what the track at 1 hr 34 mins is?

I recently found out that I haven't been receiving email notifications to approve comments and discovered 20+ from the last few months pending approval. Not sure what happened there but if you didn't get a response that's why. Thanks to Krisch for bringing it to my attention. Unfortunately there are plenty of people that think spamming blog comments sections is still a worthwhile endeavour (I really can't see how) so I need to keep the blocker in place.

Funkmaster Flex on Hot 97 (17.12.95)

Always nice to hear a bit of Flex rocking on the radio, and being that it's from 1995 means the selection is suitably on point.

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Not really sure what to make of the recent beef with Kid Capri but 2 men in their 50s shouldn't really be arguing online (about what appears to be nothing) and screen-shotting each others text messages. It's a shame really as I've heard Flex give the Kiiiiiid his props numerous times over the years. As an example, here's an interview with the pair from November '98 that was broadcast on the Radio 1 Rap Exchange.

KRS One - Future Flavas on Hot 97 (1994)

Before Pete Rock and Marley Marl made the Future Flavas show famous, it was hosted by KRS One (yeah I thought that was a bit weird too). Here's 40 minutes from a tape Tobes gave me a while back. Method Man, Bootcamp Click, Keith Murray, Death Camp and Mad Lion all feature.

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Stretch Armstrong on Hot 97 (1996)

Stretch on Hot 97 from July '96, with Nine in the house for a brief interview and freestyle. in the midst of the sort of bangers you'd expect, you can also find Akinyele's excellent 'Freaky Deaky' which appeared on a couple of mixtapes but sadly remains unreleased.

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tracklist

Artifacts - The Ultimate

King Sun - NY Love (All Eyez On Sun)

McGruff ft The LOX - Reppin Uptown

MOP - My Kinda Nigga

Ill Al Skratch ft Greg Nice - Me And The Click

talk break

[Crucial Conflict commercial]

Powerule ft Noreaga - Well Connected

Nine - Lyin King

Nine interview & freestyle

The Roots - The Good The Bad & The Desolate

Adagio - Obvious Joint

Lace Da Booms -Ain't No Secret

CNN - Stick You

ATCQ - Peace Prosperity & Paper

Cru ft Black Rob - Nuthin But

Lace Da Booms - Cut That Weak Shit

Akinyele - Freaky Deaky 

Beatnuts - Find That

Heltah Skeltah - Soldiers Gone Psycho

Edo G - Dedicated

Jeru The Damaja - One Day

NB: not 100% that I have the a and b side of the tape in the correct order but the way Stretch is talking in the first part makes me think that it's the beginning of the show. Also, Adagio appeared at the beginning of side 2 and also at the end (after Jeru 'One Day'). I gave up trying to figure it all out because life's too short.

Stretch & Bobbito on Hot 97 (29.09.96)

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Thanks to Diggo Blick for sending me this cassette, which is 90 minutes of Stretch and Bob on Hot 97 with Royal Flush and Da Bush Babees in the studio. And it's Stretch's birthday. Full tracklist can be found here.

Black Rob - Future Flavas freestyle (1998)

Always happy to come across a Black Rob freestyle I haven't heard before and that's exactly what happened on my drive to work this morning when he popped up in the middle of a Future Flavas show from 1998. Shout out to DJ Diablo for hooking me up with this and a bunch of other FF shows.

Funkmaster Flex on Hot 97 (1996)

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Thanks to Tobes for this one.There's a frankly ridiculous amount of future classics on here. To think they all dropped around the same time is crazy, particularly when 2017 is looking like it could be the first year in the last 30 (I was introduced to all this on Christmas Day 1987) when I haven't heard a rap song I'd be bothered about hearing more than once. Anyway, self pity aside, late 95 was when I first started making the monthly trip to London to cop the latest import 12"s, so the track list on this isn't wildly different to the first ever mixtape I gave out to people, of which there's about 15 copies in existence. I don't have a copy anymore but if you ever see a C90 labelled 'NO GIMMICKS' selling on ebay for 4 figures then that's the one.

EDIT: Turns out I've previously posted this tape back in 2011 when MK hooked me up a copy but I'd ripped it in 128 kbps and the DL link is long dead anyway.

Stretch & Bobbito on Hot 97 with DJ Premier (1997)

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Another tape from the batch Tobes gave me. Think this one may have been online before as there's a tracklist on the S&B blog. As with every single radio show and mixtape from the second half of 1997, this includes You Know My Steez and Its Been A Long Time. There's some nice indie tracks on here too, plus Wu All Stars 'Sole In The Hole' which is one of the better songs by a Wu Tang spin off.