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'.

Rapper Tag #16: Kyza

Kyza steps up for number 16 in the Rapper Tag series

Tracey Lee ft Black Rob, Buckshot, Kurupt & Madd Rapper 'Evo 3000' (1999)

I only discovered this track recently when I found it on a bootleg 12" I picked up whilst out digging the other week. No hook, a heavyweight line up, and definitely typical of the posse cuts that were ubiquitous on albums and mixtapes around the turn of the century.
After reaching out to Tracey Lee he confirmed it's from his unreleased album 'Live From The 215'. I don't recall seeing it online before so here you go...

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Dre to release Detox on 6th August!

50 Cent doesnt know when its coming out, DJ Quik doesnt think it ever will come out, some shitty blogger even bothered to provide us with 7 speculative reasons why it wouldn't ever come out. All that doesn't matter (especially that fuck awful blog article) because the staff at HMV in Guildford know whats up.
NB: 'Artwork TBC' just in case you thought that was the final design.

DJ Chase 'The Bitch' remix (1998)

Biggie's 'Nasty Boy' over Missy's 'She's A Bitch', courtesy of DJ Chase. I imagine this woulda been killin it in tha clubz back in 98.

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DJ Step One - The Infinite Hip Hop Show 30.06.12

DJ Step One - The Infinite Hip Hop Show - Kane FM (30.06.12) by Kane Fm on Mixcloud

Last night's show on Kane FM. The usual mix of brand new tracks and classics.
Check the show live every other Saturday from 6-8pm.
If you're a DJ and are interested in submitting a 30/40 minute mix for the show, contact me at steponekanefm@gmail.com for more details.

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.