The Dope Blend Theory

Here's a couple of blends I cooked up using 2 ATCQ joints, the first one is the 1nce Again acapella over the Crooklyn instrumental (which is produced by Q Tip and Ali). I was never a massive fan of the original 1nce Again beat and remember being quite underwhelmed when it appeared as the lead single for Beats Rhymes & Life. The Crooklyn beat gives it a bit more bounce imo.



The second one is Stressed Out over the Dead Presidents instrumental...



These were originally intended to be part of a 'mid 90s blends' mix I was putting together that never got finished, so I might post what I've got so far up as individual tracks over the next few weeks and months.

Q Tip 'Q Tip For President' (2008)

One more post before I leave the country for a few days. By the time I come back the election will be over and there's a slim chance we might have a new PM. I live in what might be the safest Conservative seat in the country and although my MP is one of the most disliked politicians around, he'll probably stay put given none of his challengers are particularly inspiring. Anyway, thought I'd roll with an election themed joint so here's Q Tip rapping over 'Eric B Is President'

I think this came out in the run up to the release of his 'Renaissance' LP (good album btw) when Obama had the streets on smash and rappers briefly showed an interest in politics for the first time in years.

Also, whilst having a bit of a vinyl purge I came across this remix of 3LW's 'No More' which features Nas and also uses the Eric B Is President beat, so here you go...

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May aswell post this up too. Always enjoyable although I'm sure certain purists caught feelings and considered it blasphemous when it dropped...

DJ Sandman freestyles 12" (1996)

I posted the joints on this 12" about 4 years ago, but they were ripped straight from my hissy copy of Sandman's 'Volume 120' mixtape. Having recently copped the record pictured, I thought you might like an upgrade to the improved vinyl version. Exclusive freestyles-that-are-almost-proper-songs from Channel Live, Smoothe Da Hustler, Q Tip and X Clan.

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A Tribe Called Quest - Hot 97 freestyle (1996)

Q Tip, Phife and Consequence in the studio with Funkmaster Flex on Hot 97 just before 'Beats Rhymes and Life' was released. Shout to Mr Lawson for the tape!

Q Tip vs Sade 'Breathe In Paradise'

Another wicked remix out of the Soul Focus camp. Tip's vocals and Sade's 80s classic 'Paradise' sound made for each other...

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This blend was initially made about 10 years go when DJ Mystery mixed the acapella over the instrumental and recorded it to tape. Its been given a 2010 revamp since then and sounds even better.

BONUS! Q Tip 'Gettin Up' (King Most remix)
Been playing this a lot since I found it on the net (I forget where) last year.

RARE 90s FREESTYLES - Q Tip, Method Man and more

Some more rare 90s freestyles, this time taken from DJ Sandman’s ‘Volume 120: Mission Impossible’ mixtape.
I haven't been able to find out much about Sandman as there seem to be a few people using the same name. I’ve never seen any of his other tapes around either which is a shame as theres a good mix of exclusives, blends and freestyles on here. This tape was the first place I heard 2Pac’s ‘Hit Em Up’ amongst other future classics.
The freestyles were all done specifically for this tape, which dropped in 1996, and include some of the heavy hitters of that period: Method Man, Q Tip, Smoothe & Trigga, Inspectah Deck with Street Life & Carlton Fisk, Channel Live, and – very randomly – Brother J of X-Clan.

DOWNLOAD DJ SANDMAN FREESTYLES HERE