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.

y'all can't copyright no beats!

I received my first warning/take down notice from Blogger this week, for uploading this of all things. I emailed them back (to no response)to ask exactly who's copyright I had violated as the record in question isn't an unofficial release and I was curious as to who had beef: the dude that put it out, Ice Cube, Puffy, DMX or Survivor. That's 4 different record labels.
In the 3+ years I've been doing this I've generally stayed away from uploading commercial releases and things that are easily available to purchase but I was suprised that in over 400 posts that was the thing that got picked up on. It wasn't even listed on Discogs until a couple of weeks ago.
Anyway, at the risk of getting this whole thing shut down, I'll attempt to press on.

Live on stage...

DJ Step One - The Infinite Hip Hop Show 16.06.12

DJ Step One - The Infinite Hip Hop Show 16.06.12 by Kane Fm on Mixcloud

Tonight's show included new music from Masta Ace, Rosco P Coldchain and Mystro, aswell an 80s Classics mix and some mid/late 90s selection.

#HipHopBetterWakeUp

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Dont forget to check The Infinite Hip Hop Show on Kane FM tonight at 6pm (UK time)

DJ Rectangle 'Ill Rated' (1995)

Just rediscovered this last night. Dope Rectangle mix from '95

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Westside Connection, Special Ed, Channel Live and Goodie Mob all feature but in typical Rectangle style theres a new acapella or instrumental dropped in every couple of minutes.

DJ Step One - The Infinite Hip Hop Show 02.06.12

DJ Step One - The Infinite Hip Hop Show on Kane FM (02.06.12) by Kane Fm on Mixcloud

After a few problems with down/uploading, here's my show from this past Saturday. I hadn't found much new stuff to play so decided to drop a few blends, pulled out some 94/95 material for the golden era selection and there's also a guest mix courtesy of Bristol's Mr Fantastic.

Richie Rich - Kiss FM (1991)

Another Kiss FM tape, but the first time I've dropped a Richie Rich show. There was no date on the tape (courtesy of Diseone) but Im guessing its early 1991, or possibly late 1990.
Richie was one of the bigger Hip Hop DJs in London in the mid-late 80s, holding down shows on Kiss in both its pirate and legal forms. He also set up Gee St Records which was the UK outlet for releases by Jungle Brothers, PM Dawn and Gravediggaz amongst others.
Although his own productions were mainly Hip Hop based cut-n-paste affairs, he also dropped the classic 'Salsa House' before ending up presenting on MTV Europe in the early 90s. Since then he pretty much disappeared. I've been told he gave up music and found God.

Richie Rich - Kiss FM London 1991 by Djstepone on Mixcloud