Tape Kingz #5: Tobes

 You may know Tobes from the dope Sparkle Motion mixes (with DJ Yoda) and as part of Blood Money (with DJ Dub), or for his work on Spine Magazine back in the day. He's also a mixtape aficionado and has contributed some of his extensive collection to this site in the past. Here's his top 3...

Doo Wop - Spring '94 (1994) 

To be a teenage rap fanatic in the Spring of 1994 was a true blessing. Looking back, I honestly feel so fortunate to have experienced it all. As consumers we were completely spoiled for amazing music on a weekly basis. This tape was a perfect snapshot of the time. Completely unskippable, every track a banger. Plus you had the Bounce Squad intro, and Wop hyping every song like crazy throughout the tape. I listen to this one every now and then and the memories come flooding back. It was an amazing time.      

Ron G - Mixes 12 (1993)  

I have every Ron G mixtape he put out in the 90s. This is probably my favorite along with It's On Pt. II and 187. Mixes 12 featured classic hip hop beats paired with various acapellas, everything from Tina Turner to Buju Banton. It was a big influence for Sparkle Motion's 'Mega Blends' mix which has Ron on the intro. He had the art of the mixtape blend down to a science. The opening Jomanda 'I Like It' / Steady B 'Use Me' blend is so cold. I would play the transformer scratch he did on that over and over and over again, completely mesmerized. It was so ill. Still is. I feel like Ron G never got the props he deserves. His R&B/hip hop blends helped shape the sound of 90's/00's R&B as we know it. Ask Puffy. 

Kid Capri - 52 Beats (1991)  

The fact that this tape was recorded live in one take just makes it so ill to me. When the records skip a few times and Capri jokes "ooops excuse that!" gave it that raw factor, along with tons of tape hiss. I miss tape hiss! It was all breakbeats, but it doesn't get any more hip hop than this. So many break mixes came after, but none were as good. It's a magical listening experience that every hip hop head should be forced to listen to!

BONUS! Tobes and I collaborated on the internet hood classic A Queensbridge Project a few years back which you should definitely check out when  you're in the mood for some early 00s QB raps.

Tape Kingz #3: DJ Snips

Stepping up next to drop his top 3 mixes is DJ Snips. Currently based in NY, Snips co-promoted and DJ'd at Livin Proof which was one of London's biggest hip hop nights. His production CV includes Trife, Cappadonna, Skyzoo and the infamous Poisonous Poets crew which included Lowkey, Doc Brown, Reveal and Tony D. He's currently in the middle of releasing a new beat every week as part of his 52 Beats project. 

DJ Spinna - Live on Westwood (1999) This one always sticks in my head as it was a pivotal time for hip hop when the underground and mainstream worlds were completely divided. It seemed like a breath of fresh air to hear a DJ like Spinna, who was very much a staple in the underground scene, on a show like Westwood's, who by that time would rarely play records from that world. 

 Kid Capri - 52 Beats What even needs to be said about this? Hip Hop DJing 101. With the introduction of the internet many of these breaks are common knowledge to most people but that wasn’t always the case. I recently named my latest beat tape after this. 

DJ Premier - NY Reality Check 101 (1997)  

This and Stretch Armstrong's 'The Lesson' were the pinnacle of mid-late 90s NY indie hip hop. This tape stands out to me particularly because I used it as a gauge to make my own tapes. I had doubles of most of the 12”s on here and was imitating Premo's juggles as a way to get tighter myself. Seems fitting in hindsight as I did the same thing with his beats when I started producing.

Kid Capri - 4 / 2 / 91

Kid Capri killing it back in '91. The title on the cover is a bit misleading as at the time the tracks were all new, but judging by the artwork (similar to tapes from 95-98) this is a re-issue from a a years later.

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I don't think this one has been online before so thanks to Diablo for hooking this up.

Kid Capri - 4.11.90

I copped this years ago from Grime & Lime (download link still available) and just added it to my Mixcloud page  - for my convenience as much as anyone else's - after giving it a listen this week. I try not to leave it too long between posts so thought I'd throw this one up. Enjoy.

Still making regular updates on the Westwood Archives page too - recent shows include P Diddy, Tony Touch, Marley Marl, Doug E Fresh, Funk Flex and New Flesh For Old.

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.

Kid Capri - Live at the Q Club (1991)

The Kiiiiid Capri gets busy live in the spot back in 1991....

STREAM SIDE A    STREAM SIDE B

courtesy of a kind donation. You might also want to check these if you missed 'em

Kid Capri interview on Juan Epstein

Kid Capri Live at The Building, New York City (1990)

DJ Jaycee - Something In The Way You Make Me Feel (Queensbridge Houses Thermometer Adjustment Mix)

"Salute to Kid Capri for making this acapella one of the most sought after joints on this earth after blending it with 'Impeach The President' live on MTV back in the day. Now I'm putting my spin on it.
Enjoy!!"

GO HERE

Kid Capri on Hot 97 (1996)

As I just re-upped this Kid Capri tape from 1989 I though I'd also share this set from Hot 97's Mixmasters Weekend back in 1996. I think I originally got it from DJ Soul's blog years ago but if you missed it first time around then here you go...

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The video is worth a watch too, especially for the slightly awkward moment (about 9 mins in) when Kid recalls Cipha Sounds taking a shot at him back when he was Flex's weed carrier.

Kid Capri mixtape 6.20.89

This seems like a pretty good snapshot of what was big in NYC 20 years ago. The Kiiiiid Capri serves up some Heavy D, LL, Big Daddy Kane, BDP, "brand new" Public Enemy and Soul II Soul plus some classic breaks including a nice James Brown section at the end of the tape.

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Original tape courtesy of DJ MK

Marley Marl on Westwood - 1998 (Part 3)

The Marley Marl mixes I post always prove popular. This is part 3 of his appearance on Westwood’s show back in 1998.
The start has a KRS ONE freestyle off his Hot 97 show with Kris going off over some beats by Marley and Pete Rock. The rest is a showcase of his Juice Crew productions – Biz, Shan, Craig G etc.

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Here's Part 1 & 2 if you missed them.

FUNKMASTER FLEX INTERVIEWS KID CAPRI ON HOT 97














Just found this tucked away on the end of another tape. This is from 1998 when Kid Capri was about to drop his second album. The pair discuss their favourite DJs and tapes and the legendary '52 Beats' mix.

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